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| Nepalese ethnic group ends strike | |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| The government of Nepal and an ethnically-based political movement have reached an agreement ending a general strike. | |
| The strike, called by the Madheshi community based in Nepal's plains, paralysed the south of the country. | |
| It also created a nationwide fuel shortage and a hike in food prices. | |
| The deal was reached after protracted talks between the government and Madheshis angered over what they say is a lack of political representation. | The deal was reached after protracted talks between the government and Madheshis angered over what they say is a lack of political representation. |
| The agreement provides for a certain degree of autonomy for the southern plains and other parts of Nepal. | The agreement provides for a certain degree of autonomy for the southern plains and other parts of Nepal. |
| The degree of autonomy, how many "states" the country will have and their boundaries, will be decided after elections to an assembly which is due to write a new constitution. | The degree of autonomy, how many "states" the country will have and their boundaries, will be decided after elections to an assembly which is due to write a new constitution. |
| Many commentators say ethnically-based autonomy cannot work in a country with a complex web of geographically intermingled groups. | Many commentators say ethnically-based autonomy cannot work in a country with a complex web of geographically intermingled groups. |
| Violent campaign | Violent campaign |
| The three southern parties forming the front leading the strike had earlier demanded "self-determination" for their region but that word has not been officially used. | The three southern parties forming the front leading the strike had earlier demanded "self-determination" for their region but that word has not been officially used. |
| Let there be no more differences between us Nepalis Nepalese PM GP Koirala | Let there be no more differences between us Nepalis Nepalese PM GP Koirala |
| Announcing the deal, Nepal's prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, spoke partially in Hindi - a language favoured by some Madheshis. | Announcing the deal, Nepal's prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, spoke partially in Hindi - a language favoured by some Madheshis. |
| He said that he hoped the election would address the issues of all marginalised groups. | He said that he hoped the election would address the issues of all marginalised groups. |
| "Let there be no more differences between us Nepalis," he said. | "Let there be no more differences between us Nepalis," he said. |
| Mr Koirala described the constituent assembly election as the "place where we will get solutions to all the problems facing Nepal". | Mr Koirala described the constituent assembly election as the "place where we will get solutions to all the problems facing Nepal". |
| As the deal was announced, Madheshi leaders looked jubilant, while leaders of national parties including the Maoist leader, Prachanda, looked stony-faced. | As the deal was announced, Madheshi leaders looked jubilant, while leaders of national parties including the Maoist leader, Prachanda, looked stony-faced. |
| The deal says that Madheshis and other population groups will henceforth be represented in Nepal's army in proportion to their numbers. | The deal says that Madheshis and other population groups will henceforth be represented in Nepal's army in proportion to their numbers. |
| This is symbolically important. | This is symbolically important. |
| The army is at the core of the country's establishment but Madheshis in particular have barely been a part of it, especially at senior levels. | The army is at the core of the country's establishment but Madheshis in particular have barely been a part of it, especially at senior levels. |
| "In this country... we have to struggle for our rights time and again," United Democratic Madheshi Front leader Rajenda Mahato told reporters. | "In this country... we have to struggle for our rights time and again," United Democratic Madheshi Front leader Rajenda Mahato told reporters. |
| "This time we did the same so that we have a good and valid constituent assembly election," he said. | "This time we did the same so that we have a good and valid constituent assembly election," he said. |
| Peace talks | Peace talks |
| Madheshi unrest has bedevilled the country for the past 14 months, severely undermining the shaky peace which came with the end of a Maoist insurgency in 2006. | Madheshi unrest has bedevilled the country for the past 14 months, severely undermining the shaky peace which came with the end of a Maoist insurgency in 2006. |
| Dark clouds over Nepal | Dark clouds over Nepal |
| The southern parties now say they are ready to take part in Nepal's first general elections in nine years, which are due in April. | The southern parties now say they are ready to take part in Nepal's first general elections in nine years, which are due in April. |
| They had earlier threatened to might boycott them. | They had earlier threatened to might boycott them. |
| The parties say they will also call off a general strike in the south. | The parties say they will also call off a general strike in the south. |
| But the accord does not include militant groups waging a violent campaign in the name of the Madheshis. | But the accord does not include militant groups waging a violent campaign in the name of the Madheshis. |
| Speaking as the deal was announced, one regional leader, Mahanta Thakur, called on them to enter peace talks. | Speaking as the deal was announced, one regional leader, Mahanta Thakur, called on them to enter peace talks. |