Nepal rebels, govt fail to finalise parliament

KATHMANDU, Nov 26 (Reuters) A peace process aimed at ending Nepal's decade-old Maoist insurgency suffered a setback today when government and rebels failed to finalise an interim constitution and Parliament as agreed in a landmark pact.

Earlier this month, the two sides agreed to set up an interim constitution and form a provisional parliament on Nov 26. They also agreed to set up an interim cabinet to allow the rebels to join the mainstream government on Dec 1.

But both parties now say they are running behind their ambitious timetable which was agreed on Nov 8.

''We suspect there could be some moves to delay the entire peace process,'' senior Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma, a rebel negotiator, told Reuters.

''From our side we are ready, but the government is slow with the interim constitution and parliament which should be the main focus now after the peace deal has been signed.'' This indicates that the formation of the interim government may also be delayed, Sharma added.

Tourism minister Pradip Gyanwali, a government negotiator, said authorities were busy discussing the modalities of arms with the Maoists and the United Nations, who will supervision the management of weapons on both sides.

There was no problem in finalising the statute which would be done in the near future, Gyanwali said.

Government negotiators, rebel commanders and UN monitors were busy today trying to hammer out the details of how to monitor arms, five days after a peace deal formally ended a civil war which has killed more than 13,000 people in Himalayan nation.

Maoist leader Prachanda met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to express his concern about the delay, rebel officials said. But it was not immediately clear what transpired during the meeting between the two leaders.

Under the deal, the Maoists have agreed to restrict their 35,000 fighters to 28 camps and store their weapons in seven cantonments under the UN supervision prior to joining the mainstream government.

The government will also confine its 90,000-strong army to barracks and keep an equal number of its arms under the lock and key in the run up to next year's elections to a constituent assembly.

But UN officials say weapon storage arrangements will not be in place by then.

REUTERS SSC BST1641