Nepal parties divided over army integration

Kathmandu, June 14 : The top three Nepal's parties are still divided on modality and process of integration between the Nepal Army and the Maoist combatants.

Speaking at a function on Friday Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the Maoists' demand for en masse merger of its combatants led to the delay in finding consensus on formation of new government.

He stressed on the need to integrate the combatants on the basis of their quality and ability.

The Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) leader Bhim Rawal is also against the en masse merger of the combatants. He pointed out the need to find a solution to the problem at the earliest, since the nation cannot continue to have two separate armies.

Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun 'Ananta' rejected the idea of dismantling the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and blamed other parties for raising the issue to delay the formation of new government under the leadership of Maoists.

He further said denying merger the Maoists Army and the Nepal Army is a severe breach of the comprehensive peace accord, Nepalnews reported.

ANI