Maoists warn of 'crisis' unless Nepal PM steps down
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
KATHMANDU, May 31 (AFP): Nepal's opposition Maoist party Monday urged the prime minister to step down quickly, warning that failure to do so would result in "serious crisis" in the troubled country.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal agreed late Friday to resign and pave the way for a new power-sharing government in a deal to secure the support of Maoist lawmakers for a bill to extend parliament's term.
The eleventh-hour agreement brought Nepal back from the brink of political chaos, with parliament's term due to expire at midnight and leave the country without a functioning legislature.
But the prime minister's office has so far refused to a give a time frame for his resignation, angering Maoist leaders, who saying he made a verbal commitment to leave within five days.
"The party now appeals to the prime minister and the political parties to remain true to their commitments... and to create a conducive environment for consensus," said Maoist spokesman Dinanath Sharma in a statement Monday.
The Janadisha daily, regarded as a mouthpiece for the Maoists, quoted senior party leader Mohan Baidya as saying the prime minister's failure to resign within five days of the deal would result in "serious crisis."
"We must not let that happen," he told the paper. "The prime minister's resignation has to come in five days."
The opposition Maoists won 2008 elections, but their government fell last year in a disagreement over the integration of their former fighters into the national army, and they have been agitating for a return to power ever since.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal agreed late Friday to resign and pave the way for a new power-sharing government in a deal to secure the support of Maoist lawmakers for a bill to extend parliament's term.
The eleventh-hour agreement brought Nepal back from the brink of political chaos, with parliament's term due to expire at midnight and leave the country without a functioning legislature.
But the prime minister's office has so far refused to a give a time frame for his resignation, angering Maoist leaders, who saying he made a verbal commitment to leave within five days.
"The party now appeals to the prime minister and the political parties to remain true to their commitments... and to create a conducive environment for consensus," said Maoist spokesman Dinanath Sharma in a statement Monday.
The Janadisha daily, regarded as a mouthpiece for the Maoists, quoted senior party leader Mohan Baidya as saying the prime minister's failure to resign within five days of the deal would result in "serious crisis."
"We must not let that happen," he told the paper. "The prime minister's resignation has to come in five days."
The opposition Maoists won 2008 elections, but their government fell last year in a disagreement over the integration of their former fighters into the national army, and they have been agitating for a return to power ever since.