Crucial meeting begins in Baluwatar

A crucial meeting of the leaders of major political parties has begun in Baluwatar from early morning Tuesday in an effort to convince the Maoists not to defect the coalition government ahead of the polls.

Top leaders of the Nepali Congress, Nepali Congress Democratic, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist) have gathered at the Prime Minister Koirala’s Baluwatar residence to sort out the widening differences.

Prime Minister Koirala is scheduled to meet the leaders of three other major parties separately and jointly.

Earlier this morning, Koirala met with Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and semi underground communist leader Prakash. Similarly, the senior Maoist leaders are busy discussing their strategies.

Likewise, the civil society leaders have also held informal meetings with top leaders and urged them to pass a commitment resolution from the interim parliament in favour of a democratic republic.

The leaders expect to reach a consensus by the afternoon. The Maoists have said they will announce defection from the government from their mass meeting scheduled to start 2 p.m. at Kathmandu’s Open Air Theatre today if their demands are not addressed by then. nepalnews.com ia Sep 18 07