Nepal parties meet to address political crisis

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal's political parties held crisis talks Tuesday on forming a new coalition government after the prime minister resigned in a power struggle with the president over enlisting former Maoist rebels into the military.

Hundreds of police were deployed around President Ram Baran Yadav's office and detained about 40 protesters who rallied there in violation of a ban, police official Govind Pathak said.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal — the former leader of Nepal's Maoist rebels — resigned Monday in a dispute with Yadav over firing the country's military chief. Dahal wanted him sacked because of his refusal to enlist former Maoist rebels into the military, but Yadav overruled the decision.

Nepal's Maoists fought a bloody 10-year war against the government before joining the political mainstream in 2006, and then winning the most votes during parliamentary elections last year that helped bring an end to the Himalayan country's centuries-old monarchy.



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[David__77]

1. A national front government is preferable.

The peace process must be continued. The army must be democratized and the two armies must be merged as per the 8-party agreement that was the basis of the democratic republican transformation. Congress and UML must stop being obstinate and supported retrograde royalist forces. Maoists will continue peace process.

[bemildred]

2. Nepal Maoist leader in leak row

The outgoing Nepalese PM, Prachanda, has condemned the leaking of video footage in which he admits exaggerating the strength of his forces.

Prachanda - who resigned on Monday - is accused of lying about his forces 18 months ago to have more bargaining power during peace negotiations.

On Wednesday he condemned the leak as a propaganda ploy by his opponents.

Meanwhile police in Kathmandu have used tear gas and bamboo sticks to break up a protest by Maoist supporters.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8036368.stm