Nepalnews.com Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd.

Eight-party meeting begins at Baluwatar

The meeting of the top leaders of the seven-party coalition government and the Maoists is underway at the prime minister's residence from early Monday morning to discuss the statute promulgation date.

The meeting is expected to fix the date for promulgating the interim constitution after amendment in issues that leaders, including the prime minister, have expressed dissatisfaction.

The meeting of the eight parties was called following the discussion held between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist Chairman Prachanda Sunday.

After the meeting on Sunday, second in command Dr Baburam Bhattarai had told the media that additional facilities to the Maoist army would also be discussed in the eight party meeting.

The government has been saying that interim constitution would be promulgated once the arms monitoring of the Maoist and Nepali army begins. The joint committee comprising government and Maoists have completed the selection of former Gurkha soldiers to monitor arms before the full team of the UN arrives. A few UN officers have also arrived for the task.

The leaders of the eight parties are also expected to discuss the issue of amending some provisions in the draft of the statute in which various parties, organisations and the judiciary have demanded changes. Radio reports, however say the statute would be promulgated without any changes. nepalnews.com ia Jan 08 07