Thursday, May 31, 2007

Nepal to hold delayed elections in Nov/Dec

Nepal will hold elections near year's end for a constituent assembly to decide the fate of its monarchy, capping a peace deal with former Maoist rebels after a decade-long insurgency, political officials said on Thursday.
The vote was once expected in June but officials had said they did not have enough time to organise it that soon.
The agreement will help end political uncertainty sparked by the election delay and aid in sealing the peace deal that ended a civil war which killed more than 13,000 people.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala met with Maoist chief Prachanda and other leaders from the ruling coalition and agreed to reschedule the polls for the Nepali month that starts on November 17.
"The cabinet will formally decide the exact date for the elections soon," said Prakash Sharan Mahat, senior leader of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) party, a key member of the ruling coalition.
"The timing was suggested by the prime minister and other leaders agreed," he said.
Maoist politicians also said the election would be held in that period.
But senior Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma said supporters of the king or "forces who believe in the status quo" could try to sabotage the elections.

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