WASINGTON-The World Bank said Wednesday it is considering stopping its projects and programs in the country if the current political tension continued and constitutional freedoms are not respected. In a carefully worded statement issued in Washington, the Bank said it was monitoring events in Nepal closely and could take further action in two months. Bank staff from Kathmandu had reportedly written to its Board saying that more time would be needed to make a \'ground-level assessment' of whether ongoing projects can be implemented. The Board expressed concerns about the security situation in Nepal and whether projects could actually be carried out. The Board also raised questions about the government's ability to continue implementing difficult economic reforms \'in the absence of representative mechanisms to build broad-based consensus'. The Bank, however, still broadly supported the cautious approach proposed by management to consult closely with other development partners in assessing the progress that the government makes in reform implementation as well as issues related to the broader governance environment of the country, including the rule of law and protection of human rights. Sources said World Bank Country Director Ken Ohashi gave the government a window of one to two months to show renewed commitment to reform and governance issues. (IPS)