PM, Prachanda discuss current political situation, appointments
In an attempt to defuse tensions, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda held discussion at Baluwatar Sunday morning.
According to reports, the meeting was focused mainly on promulgating of interim constitution at the earliest, formation of interim parliament and interim government and the recent appointments by the government.
Talking with Nepal FM, Maoist second-in-command, Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai, who accompanied Prachanda during the meeting, said that Prachanda asked Koirala to promulgate interim constitution and form interim parliament and government immediately so that elections to constituent assembly could be held by mid-June 2006.
Dr. Bhattarai further said that the Prime Minister agreed to do these things shortly.
The interim constitution would be promulgated after the ex-Gurkha soldiers start monitoring of Maoist arms and armies, according to Bhattarai. Koirala also agreed to make key appointments with the consent of from all the ruling parties and the Maoists.
Bhattarai, however, did not say whether the recent nomination of ambassadors and appointment at National Human Rights Commission would be revoked.
Home Minister and chief government negotiator Krishna Prasad Sitaula was also present at the meeting.
This is the first meeting between Prime Minister Koirala and the Maoist chairman after the dispute over the nominations in Nepali diplomatic missions and the NHRC. The Maoists had earlier warned that they would not hold dialogue with the government unless the nominations and appointments were revoked. nepalnews.com pb/sd Dec 24 06
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