Nepal votes to give more seats to restive plains

KATHMANDU, Mar 9 (Reuters) Nepal's interim parliament overwhelmingly approved giving more seats to the southern plains peoples in a new assembly to be elected in June, a move aimed at appeasing often violent anti-government protests this year.

The plan was approved by 278 votes in favour and five against in the 329-member legislature, officials said today, adding the rest of the members either abstained or were not present.

Many places in the southern Terai region bordering India remained crippled due to strikes by ethnic Madhesi groups demanding more political representation.

At least 30 people were also killed in the protests earlier this year organised by the Madhesi People's Rights Forum.

The turmoil has clouded a peace deal between the government and Maoists ending a decade-old civil war in which more than 13,000 people died. Under the peace deal, the assembly will draw up a new constitution for Nepal.

The forum says the Terai region, accounting for one third of Nepal's 26 million people, is underrepresented in government jobs and parliament.

''This is a historic victory for the Madhesi people,'' said Umakant Choudhury, a deputy representing the Terai region.

REUTERS PDM KP2040