News from Nepal

KATHMANDU, March 1 - In the wake of up-paced consultations between the seven-party alliance government and the CPN-M regarding the formation of an interim government, the diplomatic missions in Nepal too have begun discussion sessions with the key members of the government and the political parties.

Indian ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee on Thursday met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the latter’s Baluawatar residence.

Sources said the meeting between the PM and the Indian envoy concentrated on contemporary political issues and recent politcal developments.

The 20-minute meeting between the premier and the Indian envoy mainly had the issues like Maoists’ inclusion in the Interim Government and management of weapons among others.

In the eve of a meeting said to be held between the PM and Maoist Chairman Prachanda to discuss the inclusion of CPN-M in the interim government, the meeting between the PM Koirala and Mukharjee is being observed with immense “interest”.

Similarly, American ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty met with the Speaker of the Interim Legislature-Parliament Subhas Nembang this morning at the Speaker’s official residence.

The meeting between the American envoy and the Speaker too focused on Maoists’ inclusion in the interim government, sources said.

Earlier yesterday envoy Moriarty had met with CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and had cast his doubts over the number of Maoist weapons registered with the UN. Moriarty had expressed his skepticism stating the Maoists did not register all the weapons they possess with the UN.

Govt, Maoists meet to fix polls date postponed Meanwhile, a government-Maoist meeting that was scheduled for today, to decide on the dates of the elections to the Constituent Assembly and Interim Government has been called off.

According to Maoist spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the meet was postponed to Friday due to PM Koirala’s time constraints.

The government and the CPN-Maoist yesterday discussed the issues of the soon-to-be-formed Interim Government and the elections to the Constituent Assembly slated for mid-June.

Maoist Chairman Prachanda, senior leaders Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Matrika Yadav, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala, among others were present in the meeting at Hotel Himalaya in Lalitpur Wednesday afternoon to discuss the Interim Government issue.

Following the meet, Prachanda had said that the dates for the CA elections and the Interim Government could be finalized by today itself after a meeting with the PM.