Maoist ministers quit accusing NC of delaying govt formation

Kathmandu, Jun 21 (UNI) Maoist ministers have resigned accusing Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala of delaying the process of formation of the next government.

The Maoist ministers' resignation has come at a time when the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M) and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) have reached an agreement for the post of Prime Minister and President. Local media reported that the Maoists were ready to support UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal for the post of president.

''Yes, our ministers resigned from their posts. But we couldn't formally register the resignation as we couldn't make it by office hours today,'' Maoists leader Mohan Baidhya told local newspaper.

Maoists have strongly opposed Nepal Prime Minister Koirala as the first president. Nepali Congress had proposed the name of Mr Koirala for the post of president saying that he played an important role to bring the Maoists to the mainstream and forward the peace process effectively.

According to the local news report, UML will support Maoists for the formation of new government and Maoists will support UML for president. NC has said that there is the need of consensus to write a new constitution and forward the process of economic development for some years.

The parties have said that they are close to an agreement on other issues. However, NC will stay out of the government, a senior leader of the party said.

''There is the danger of extreme Communism in Nepal,'' he said, UNI XC SZ AS1340