Prachanda predicts news government in Nepal within a week

Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, the chief of Nepal's former Maoist guerrillas, Sunday predicted that the political crisis gripping the country for more than five months would end within a week with the formation of a new all-party government headed by his party.

Prachanda, whose eight-month-old government fell in May, triggering protests by his party that have since then paralysed parliament and the new coalition government, said at a press conference called in the southern Birgunj city that the current Prime Minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal, would have to make way for a new government and new premier.

The call came even as at least two parties allegedly urged for the imposition of President's Rule in Nepal and the dissolution of the constituent assembly that also serves as Nepal's parliament.

The 601-member assembly was formed after a historic election last year following a 10-year civil war by the Maoists.

On Sunday, some Nepali dailies, including the state-run Gorkhapatra, reported that a senior member from the ruling Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), had made allegations about efforts to impose President's Rule.

UML leader Ashok Rai reportedly said at a party programme in the capital Saturday that some "prominent powers" were trying to prevent the elected constituent assembly members from writing a new constitution, Nepal's official daily said Sunday.

The Communist leader also reportedly said that these powers were seeking to dissolve the constituent assembly, impose emergency and President's Rule and form a new commission under the president which would draft the new constitution.

Though the state daily did not name the leaders allegedly trying to scuttle the peace process, Janadisha, the mouthpiece of the Maoist party, said the Nepali Congress, which is part of the ruling alliance and the largest party in parliament after the Maoists, had proposed to the UML to dissolve the assembly and impose emergency.

However, Rai said the UML had rejected the proposal, the Maoist daily said.

While there was no immediate reaction from the Nepali Congress or UML on the allegation, a second party too urged for presidential rule in Nepal.

The Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party (NWPP), which had in the past taken part in the pro-democracy movement against king Gyanendra's military-backed government and is supporting the government from outside, is seeking President's Rule, saying it is necessary to draft a new constitution.

NWPP chief Narayan Man Bijukchhe, whose party withstood the Maoist sweep during the elections in Kathmandu's neighbouring Bhakpatpur district, reportedly says the protracted Maoist protests would derail the drafting of the new constitution and is seeking President's Rule to circumvent it.

The former guerrillas, who began fresh street protests this month, have called a blockade of Kathmandu valley Tuesday.

Last updated on Nov 8^th, 2009 at 13:26 pm IST--IANS