Nepal's PM asks ex-rebel chief to form government
Nepal's prime minister on Saturday asked former rebel Maoist leader Prachanda to form the country's next government, an aide to the prime minister said.
The ex-rebels emerged as surprise winners in landmark polls last month, grabbing more than twice as many seats in a new constitution-drafting assembly as their nearest rivals.
"Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala met with Maoist chairman Prachanda and asked him to officially form the next government," Gokarna Poudel, the premier's personal aide, told AFP.
The Maoists, known formally as the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists), waged a deadly decade-long revolt to topple the monarchy and install a communist republic, but have since embraced democracy and vowed to work with their former foes in building a coalition government.
"The prime minister asked our chairman to get ready to form and lead the government," senior Maoist leader CP Gajurel said.
"We will form the government within few days," said Gajurel, adding the prime minister promised to support the Maoists in forming the government.
Debate has raged in Nepal's mainstream parties about whether to join a coalition led by the ultra-leftists who in 2006 ended their insurgency that killed at least 13,000 people.
"We've already started consultations with other parties over the formation of a coalition government. It's essential to have a coalition as it is the people's verdict," said Gajurel.
He did not however rule out the possibility that the Maoists might form a single-party government if other parties refused to join them.
"A coalition government is the need of the hour. But some leaders are saying they won't join our government. If that happens, we might have to form the government by ourselves," Gajurel said.
The first meeting of the assembly is to take place next Wednesday.
The assembly's first task will be to abolish 240-year old monarchy and then draft a new constitution for the impoverished Himalayan country sandwiched between India and China.
"We have a good feeling. We're entering a new process. War was different and we're now leaving all that behind and embarking on a new challenge," said Gajurel, who was elected to the assembly.
Nepal's King Gyanendra is expected to quit his Kathmandu palace before the monarchy is due to be abolished at the assembly's first meeting and he becomes a common citizen, according to media reports.
Gyanendra was likely to move to Nagarjun, a palace on the outskirts of the city, and then later move to his own house, the reports have said, quoting unnamed palace sources.
Gyanendra ascended to the throne in 2001 when his drink- and drug-fuelled nephew, Crown Prince Dipendra, massacred the former king and most of the royal family at the palace.
AFP
