"There are chances of Bangladesh-style regime here. There are also possibilities of political assassinations."
Prachanda, Maoist chairman, addressing a press meet in the capital.
"There is a lady who still sings praises of the monarchy."
Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Maoist leader, expressing fears of a democratic coup, referring to the daughter of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Sujata Koirala, who had recently said that monarchy as an institution is necessary for the nation.
"This is a big opportunity for dialogue. If this opportunity is missed, regressive elements will get space and even the rights that have been received may disappear."
Ram Chandra Poudel, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, calling all disgruntled groups for talks, in the parliament.
"Only the NA is the national army in the country. Endangering nationality by raising unnecessary controversy on army integration could be a ploy to derail election."
Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of Unified Marxist Leninist (UML).
"Holding CA polls in two phases by deploying a maximum number of security personnel can be disastrous."
Govinda Raj Joshi, a central leader of Nepali Congress, in The Himalayan Times.
"It is a mere coincidence that the funds for MPs are being released now."
Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Finance Minister, defending the government move to release a million rupees each for MPs for developing their constituencies just ahead of election.
"It is our hope that in 2008 more than 13,000 refugees will be resettled from Nepal. By the end of 2009, we hope that an additional 20,000 or more refugees who have chosen resettlement will be starting new lives in the United States, Australia, Canada, and elsewhere."
Nancy J Powell, US ambassador to Nepal.
Transition:
ENDED: The winter session of the interim parliament, from 9 pm, Wednesday (Jan 16), after nearly three months in business.
LEFT: Ramesh Lekhak, Minister for Labor and Transport Management, for Doha, Qatar, to sign a labor pact.
KILLED: A worker of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Dharmadish Mandal, by cadres of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-Jwala Singh) in Saptari district.
NABBED: Police have arrested two persons said to be involved in the bomb blast in Bhotahity, Kathmandu early this week. The two persons – Santosh Kumar Basnet and Megh Bahadur Khatry - are said to have belonged to an organization called National Defense Army.
