Political instability continues in Nepal

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KATMANDU, Feb 23(AP): Nepal's new prime minister met Wednesday with leaders of the Maoist party that supported him during elections, but failed to convince them to join his fragile government.
Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal has been urging the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), a former rebel group, to join his government since he was elected by parliament earlier this month. Until he received the Maoists' backing, parliament had failed 16 times to select a new prime minister because no party holds more than 50 percent of its seats.
The Maoists are demanding that they receive powerful portfolios like the home ministry in the new government, but Khanal's party has refused, saying the ex-rebels cannot be trusted with control of the police force and local administrations.
Khanal's close aide, Surya Thapa, said no agreement was reached at Wednesday's meeting but that the leaders had pledged to continue negotiations.
The Maoists' deputy leader, Narayankaji Shrestha, told reporters his party would not yield in its demands.