The Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has accused the Maoists of posing hindrances in the constitution-drafting process by obstructing the parliamentary business.

Speaking to a delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) at his office in Singha Durbar Thursday, Nepal said that constitution-drafting process would be delayed if the Maoists stick to their current position. The Maoists, he said, haven't been forthcoming in forging a broader political consensus. He further said that necessary conclusions could be reached on key issues like internal security and border problem after debating them in the parliament, but this has not been possible due to Maoist obstruction.

Prime Minister also said he was serious about maintaining law and order and expressed anguish over the brutal murder of Khyati Shrestha, an 18 yr-old college girl, after abduction.

During the meeting, the FNJ delegation led by its president Dharmendra Jha also drew the Prime Minister's attention towards the problems facing journalists. In reply, Nepal said the government would implement the suggestions made by the FNJ to ensure press freedom and security of journalists.

Meanwhile, in an interview to Reuters news agency, Prime Minister Nepal has accused the Maoists of not being honest about peace, claiming that the peace process that ended a deadly civil war has been stalled after the former rebels quit the government in May.

"The peace process is stalled and it is not moving forward smoothly," he said. "The Maoists want to show that they are honest about peace. But their behaviour is not so."

"They need to transform and change their behaviour. Otherwise they will be isolated," he said of the former rebels.

The Prime Minister also said the future of the Maoist fighters must be decided before the new constitution was written,  but insisted that only up to 5,000 combatants 'who fulfill the criteria' could be absorbed in the army.

The rest will have to be given alternative jobs, he said. nepalnews.com mk/ag June 25 09