Members of Nepali government talks team and the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (formerly known as guerilla) began to meet in Kathmandu to finalise the interim constitution Thursday afternoon, a local leading news group's website the himalayantimes.com reported Thursday.

The meeting was underway at the PM's official residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu. According to a cabinet member, the discussions are focused on interim statute. He said that the leaders were focusing their discussions on ways to finalise the interim constitution and status of the monarchy in the interim constitution.

In a meeting with CPN Chairman Prachanda Wednesday, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koiarala assured him that the announcement of the interim constitution would take place in a day or two.

Second-in command Dr Baburam Bhattarai, leaders Dev Gurung and Khimlal Devkota from CPN and government talks team members, Home Minister KP Siataula, Ministers Ramesh Lekhak and Pradip Gyawali and PM's aide Dr Shekhar Koirala were present in the meeting. The Constitution Drafting Committee headed by former Supreme Court Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal handed over the draft of the Interim Constitution to the government and the Maoists talks teams on August 25. Several important issues, like the number of legislatures in the to- be-formed interim legislature and constituent assembly, had not been specified in the draft.

The deadlines for formation of interim legislature, government and statute were missed as per the schedule set by the Nov. 8 political agreement between the seven-party alliance and CPN.

According to the agreement, interim legislature comprising 330 members and interim constitution was to be announced by Nov. 26. Agreement stated that current Parliament and National Assembly to be dissolved and interim government to be formed by Dec. 1.

Source: Xinhua