Mt. Kangchenjunga, part of the Yaksha Kingdom (Yeti, ogres), Nepal
Gopal Sharma from Kathmandu (Reuters)
Nepal's Maoists disrupted parliament on Friday and threatened to launch street rallies to protest against the government's failure to resolve a fight triggered by the firing of the army chief, officials said. The Maoists waged a decade-long civil war until a 2006 peace deal brought them to the mainstream. They scored a surprise victory in last year's election and formed the nation's first government after the abolition of the 239-year-old monarchy.
Nepal's Maoists disrupted parliament on Friday and threatened to launch street rallies to protest against the government's failure to resolve a fight triggered by the firing of the army chief, officials said. The Maoists waged a decade-long civil war until a 2006 peace deal brought them to the mainstream. They scored a surprise victory in last year's election and formed the nation's first government after the abolition of the 239-year-old monarchy.But in May their leader Prachanda resigned as prime minister after President Ram Baran Yadav rejected his decision to fire army chief General Rookmangud Katawal, saying he had refused to take orders from the civilian government. The Maoists say Yadav's move was "unconstitutional" and are demanding that it be debated in the parliament, which the government has so far refused.
On Friday, senior Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, said his party, which dominates the parliament, will launch street protests from next week to press for their demand, stoking fresh political turmoil in the nascent Himalayan republic. More>>
BBC COVERAGE
- Nepal Maoists issue new warning Party says that if the government does not meet its demands, it will start a series of nationwide protests.
- Back to the abyss? Fears of renewed political chaos after Prachanda resigns as prime minister.
- India worries over Nepal's future The strong showing by Nepal's Maoists in the parliamentary elections has taken its influential neighbour India by surprise.
- BBC WORLD SERVICE
News in Nepali
