Political parties resume dialogue in Nepal

Kathmandu, Oct 16 (UNI) Four major political parties resumed dialogue today to end the political impasse in Nepal after talks ended inconclusively yesterday.

The talks resumed at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar to resolve the deadlock arising out of the Maoists demands of declaring the nation a republic and adopting a proportional electoral system which led to the postponement of Constituent Assembly polls in the country.

Top leaders of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Maoists and People's Front Nepal are attending the meeting.

Despite a series of meetings and discussions among the political parties aimed at resolving the ongoing political stalemate, which started in the build up to the special session of the interim parliament on October 11, the parties are far from closing a deal.

The CPN-UML is trying to persuade other parties to forge an agreement on the amendment proposal that it registered in Parliament yesterday.

The special session of the interim Parliament will start after the meeting.

A consensus would be evolved as the discussion is moving ''in a positive direction'', Nepali Congress General Secretary Bimelandra Nidhi said.

The amendment proposal of the CPN-UML states that the government should first identify the reason why the country failed to conduct the polls on time and announce a new poll date.

It has also urged the government to take immediate and concrete steps to announce a new date, hold the election and proclaim a federal democratic republic, fulfilling all the necessary procedures.

UNI