Nepal expected to hold constituent assembly election by April/May 2007

Nepal is expected to hold constituent assembly elections by April-May of 2007, the local daily Nepal Samacharpatra reported on Sunday.

Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (United-Marxist-Leninist) Madhav Kumar Nepal have reached an agreement on the issue, the report said.

"The Prime Minster agreed to my proposal of holding the constituent assembly election by April-May next year," Nepal was quoted as saying on Saturday by the local daily.

The two top leaders also discussed such issues as forming a working procedures of coalition government, appointing officials at the election commission, giving finishing touch to yet incomplete interim constitution and holding summit talks with the guerrilla soon, according to the daily.

The top leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (United-Marxist- Leninist) said that he suggested Koirala to constitute a peace and friendship ministry, appoint defense minister and officials at the election commission.

Koirala had called Nepal for the discussion after Nepal criticized Koirala for ignoring his appeal to meet the Prime Minister.

Nepal had warned of leaving the government if the Prime Minister intervened in every work of the government as if the present government is led by single party.

Source: Xinhua