Prachand gives 3 days ultimatum to Koirala to resign

Kathmandu, Jun 1 (UNI) Maoist chairman Prachanda today warned that his party would launch a street movement if the Nepali Congress failed to hand over the reins of power to his party within the next three days, media reports said.

The statement has come just a day after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said that the dispute would be resolved at the interim parliament's next meeting on June 5.

"Prime Minister Koirala should tender his resignation to the Constituent Assembly and pave the way for the Maoists to lead the government" Nepal News quoted Prachand as saying in Gorkha district.

"If that does not happen in the next two to three days, the Maoist representatives in the current government would resign en masse and join a street agitation to be launched by the party," he said.

The NC and CPN (UML) have violated the past agreement by setting conditions for allowing the Maoists to lead the government, he said. "Now the king has been thrown out, but there are small kings who are not willing to step down even after losing the election," he added.

The Maoists have been demanding major posts including that of President, Prime Minister and important ministries though they have not got a simple majority.

The Maoists have 220 seats in the 601 seat Constituent Assembly.

Nepali Congress, UML and MJF among others want the amendment of the constitution before the Maoists form government. However, the Maoists are against the amendment. The interim constitution has the provision of two-third majority or political consensus to form and bring down a government.

UNI XC AM BST2216