PM Koirala reiterates election on April 10

Kathmandu, Feb 16 (UNI) Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has reiterated that the election for constituent assembly will take place on the scheduled date of April 10.

Speaking at his home town Biratnagar today, he said that the election will not be postponed again and will be held this time.

Replying to a question about the demand of self determination of the Madhesi leaders, he said ''I cannot accept the demand of disintigration of Nepal.'' The recently formed Madheshi political party led by former Nepali Congress leader Mahanth Thakur said that the election cannot be held unless their demand is fulfilled.

They have demanded that the Madhes should be an autonomous region.

Koirala said that the demand of Madhes can be resolved only after the election. ''Only the elected government can fulfill that demand.'' The election scheduled to be held on April 10 will write a new constitution that is expected to turn Nepal a federal democratic republic abolishing a 240-year-old monarchy.

Nepal's parliament has endorsed a proposal to declare Nepal a federal democratic republic after the election of the constituent assembly.

UNI XC RAR GC2246