Kathmandu, Aug. 29 -- Nepal has not rejected offers of international rescue assistance, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said on Saturday, dismissing reports that Kathmandu had turned away foreign rescue teams.

Speaking at a news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khanal said decisions on deploying foreign personnel and equipment were being made on the recommendations of Nepali security agencies leading rescue operations on the ground.

The two worst-affected districts remain largely cut off after major roads and bridges were destroyed, leaving helicopters as the main means of reaching many disaster-hit areas. But Nepal's steep terrain, narrow gorges and unpredictable weather limit the use of larger helicopters and make it diff...