Nepal parliament to approve interim constitution

KATHMANDU, Jan 15 (Reuters) Nepal's parliament was set to convene today to approve an interim constitution that would create a provisional legislature including the Maoists for the first time as part of a landmark peace deal.

''This is the achievement of 10 years of people's war waged by the Nepali people,'' senior Maoist leader Khim Lal Devkota told Reuters.

''We think the new interim legislature will give a new direction for the creation of a new Nepal,'' said Devkota, one of the 83 nominees of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the proposed 330-member interim legislature.

The Maoists began fighting the monarchy in 1996, but declared a ceasefire last year after mass street protests forced King Gyanendra to give up direct rule.

In November, the multi-party government and the guerrillas struck a peace deal declaring an end to the conflict in which more than 13,000 people have died in the Himalayan kingdom.

Under the pact they agreed to lock up their weapons under United Nations supervision in return for a promise by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to name them in an interim government.

That administration is meant to oversee elections for an assembly tasked with preparing a new constitution and deciding the future of the monarchy, which the Maoists want abolished.

Analysts said the deal showed the Maoists intended to join the mainstream.

''Now they will have to learn the politics of compromise,'' said Kunda Dixit, editor of the Nepali Times weekly. ''Their biggest challenge will be that they can't use the threat of violence to get their way in the parliament.'' As part of the deal, an interim constitution will be approved today by the current parliament. The interim house will comprise 209 present members and the Maoists with 38 seats to be shared by constituents of the ruling alliance.

Critics say the draft interim constitution gives unlimited power to the prime minister including the right to appoint the chief justice of the Supreme Court and has no provision for legislative control over the executive.

''It goes against the fundamental principles of the separation of power as both judiciary and legislature would be under the control of the government,'' said Yubaraj Ghimire, editor of the Samay magazine.

The Maoists, who have vowed not to return to war, were also set to start storing their arms in metal containers under UN supervision today, but keep the keys as part of the deal.

The United Nations wants the Security Council to authorise up to 186 monitors to help enforce the peace pact.

It is also sending officials to help with the election for the constituent assembly.

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