Nepal Maoist former rebels resigned from
the government Friday deepening months of political tensions among the main
political rivals.
The seven ministers belonging to the former communist rebels handed in their
resignation during a meeting of the ruling seven- party alliance on Friday
evening.
It came amid growing differences with the Nepali Congress over a range of
issues including formation of the new government and the appointment of the
country's first president.
"We have resigned in protest against the deadlock in the political
process," Minister representing the Maoists in Nepal's coalition
government Dev Gurung said.
Gurung said his party had waited for over two months to seek a way out of the
political deadlock that has prevented the formation of a new government.
"More than two months have passed since the elections and the parties are
still deadlocked over important issues, Gurung said."We have resigned so
that a political outlet can be found."
Gurung said his party would formally register the resignation at the prime
minister's office on Saturday.
The disagreement centres on the Maoists demands that they be allowed to lead
the next government as it emerged as the biggest party in the April 10
elections.
The Maoists won 230 seats in the 601 constituent assembly that is tasked with
writing a new constitution for the Himalayan nation.
The former rebels have also opposed the incumbent Prime Minister Girija Prasad
Koirala as the country's first president.
"Despite our resignation, we will continue to cooperate on important
issues, the peace process and drafting of the new constitution," Gurung
said.
This is the second time the Maoists have walked out of the government since
September 2007.
The Maoists formally gave up violence after the fall of King Gyanendra's
government in April 2006, signing a formal peace agreement in November of that
year.
They became a part of the interim government in April 2007 but have always
maintained that the other political parties were impeding the country's
politics and economic development.
The assembly led by the Maoist overwhelmingly to abolish monarchy and declared
the country a republic in late May, dpa
reported.
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