Ananova:

The BBC has apologised to Nepal after posing a question on its website asking if the country should link up with India.

The question, asking if Nepal would be better off under "the Indian umbrella", was in the corporation's latest South Asia debate on Nepal-India relations.

It was removed after many sections of Nepali society, including the government, reacted angrily to the suggestion, claiming it undermined Nepal's sovereignty, reports the Kathmandu Post.

"We apologise for any unintended offence caused by the wording of our question," a BBC announcer said on its World Service radio programme, The World Today.

"The way we phrased the question originally gave the impression to many people that we were suggesting Nepal should relinquish its sovereignty and somehow become a part of India. We never meant to suggest that - it's clearly not an issue and we are sorry for any offence caused."

All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) burned an effigy of the BBC at a rally as they protested against the internet debate regarding Indo-Nepal relations.

The Green Nepal Party also condemned the BBC for its "insensitive" question and urged the British government to advise the corporation not to organise programmes detrimental to other country's sovereignty and independence.

A spokeswoman for the World Service confirmed to Ananova that the apology had been issued, and added that the BBC had also apologised directly to the Nepali government.