Nepal to set up interim government with Maoists

Kathmandu, June 16 (UNI) Nepalese government today agreed to dissolve the Parliament while the Maoists would also dissolve their governments around the countryside and draft an interim constitution to resolve the political crisis in the Himalayan nation.

The decision was taken at high-level talks today between rebel leader Prachanda and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and top Nepalese leadership at the prime minister's high-security official residence.

Both sides expressed their commitment to democratic norms and values including competitive multi-party system, civic liberties, fundamental rights, human rights, press freedom, and law and order.

They also agreed to request the United Nations to help in the monitoring and management of the armed forces of both the sides for ensuring free and fair elections to the Constituent Assembly.

The two sides also agreed to guarantee the democratic rights achieved through the 1990 Popular Movement and the recent historic People's Movement, draft an interim constitution based on the 12-point understanding and the ceasefire Code of Conduct, form an interim government accordingly and announce the dates for constituent assembly elections. It was also decided to dissolve the House of Representatives through consensus after making alternative arrangement and dissolve the People's Governments of CPN-Maoist.

''A historic new experiment of the 21st century,'' Prachanda told mediapersons, when asked about his reaction to the development, after about 10-hour talks.

''If the peace process become successful then Nepal could be developed in the next five-ten years,'' he said.

This was the first time that the Maoist leadership and the Prime minister held talks since the formation of the new government following the popular movement against King Gyanendra in April.

UNI XC YA PC2318