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Nepal's Maoists extend poll lead Nepal's Maoists extend poll lead
(about 7 hours later)
Nepal's Maoist party has increased its lead as results are declared from landmark elections. Nepal's Maoist party has increased its lead as more results are declared from the country's landmark elections.
The former guerrillas have won 42 out of 76 seats declared, well ahead of all other parties, and far more than many analysts had expected. The former guerrillas have won 40 out of 79 seats declared, well ahead of all other parties, and far more than many analysts had expected.
Partial results suggest a similar lead elsewhere, polling officials said.Partial results suggest a similar lead elsewhere, polling officials said.
The polls, for an assembly tasked with writing a new constitution, are the first to test the Maoists at the ballot box after a 10-year guerrilla campaign. The polls, for an assembly tasked with writing a new constitution, are the first to test the Maoists at the ballot box after their 10-year insurgency.
The Maoists' leader, known by his nom-de-guerre, Prachandra, won a seat on Saturday in the capital, Kathmandu. The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says it is not just the fact that the Maoists are ahead that has caused amazement, but the scale of their lead.
He called the results a "victory" and said he saw them as the people's mandate to consolidate peace. Maoist leader Prachandra said he was committed to multiparty democracy
It's a total transformation in the form of government from a 240-year-old Hindu monarchy to a democratic republic Former US President Jimmy Carter class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/2707107.stm">Q&A: Nepal elections "We are fully committed to the peace process and multiparty democracy and to rebuild this country," he said. The Maoists have so far won more than three times as many seats as the traditionally powerful Nepali Congress, which is currently in third place.
"Maoists poised for landslide win", said a headline in the country's Himalayan Times newspaper on Sunday. Many key Maoist leaders have won seats, mostly with very large majorities.
The BBC's Charles Haviland, in Nepal, said Maoist supporters held victory processions in the capital as their gains became evident on Saturday, with red vermillion powder smeared on their faces and red hammer-and-sickle flags in their hands. Several senior politicians have lost, including the nephew and daughter of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the leader of the traditional second party, the Communist UML, as well as a veteran royalist Prime Minister, Surya Bahadur Thapa, who came third in his seat.
Monarchy abolition The new assembly is expected to confirm an agreement made in December between the ruling government alliance and former rebels to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy.
'Committed'
The Maoists' leader, known by his nom-de-guerre, Prachandra, called the results a "victory" as he celebrated his win on Saturday in the capital, Kathmandu.
Q&A: Nepal elections
"We are fully committed to the peace process and multiparty democracy and to rebuild this country," he said.
Maoist supporters have been holding victory processions, with red vermillion powder smeared on their faces and red hammer-and-sickle flags in their hands.
The election for the 601-seat assembly is a key element in the peace deal that ended the Maoists' decade-long insurgency.The election for the 601-seat assembly is a key element in the peace deal that ended the Maoists' decade-long insurgency.
The new assembly is expected to confirm an agreement for the abolition of the 240-year-old monarchy made in December between the ruling government alliance and former rebels. Although the Maoists have not yet renounced violence, they will almost certainly now have to adjust from being a party of revolt to being a party at the heart of government, our correspondent says.
Prachandra said he was committed to multiparty democracy Many Nepalis say they voted for the former rebels because they want the new faces that the older parties do not offer, or because the Maoists' actions have, in many cases, raised the wages they earn.
Intimidation
Results for the 240 constituencies chosen by the first-past-the-post system are expected over the next 10 days, although another 335 seats to be elected by proportional representation are not expected to be decided for several weeks.Results for the 240 constituencies chosen by the first-past-the-post system are expected over the next 10 days, although another 335 seats to be elected by proportional representation are not expected to be decided for several weeks.
The interim government is to appoint the remaining 26 seats.The interim government is to appoint the remaining 26 seats.
The traditionally powerful, centrist Nepali Congress has 11 seats so far, while the Communist Party of Nepal has won only 13 constituencies. While the Maoists were widely accused of electoral intimidation and threats ahead of the vote, the figures so far make it clear that even without that kind of fear factor, voters are still giving them a huge mandate, our correspondent says.
Former US President Jimmy Carter, who is an election observer, has called on Washington - which considers the Maoists a terrorist group - to deal with the former insurgents. Nepal held its first polls since 1999 following the Maoists' decision to end their armed struggle in 2006.
Nepal held its first polls since 1999 following the Maoists' decision to quit their armed struggle in 2006.
King Gyanendra seized absolute power in 2005 but was forced to give up his authoritarian rule the following year after weeks of pro-democracy protests.King Gyanendra seized absolute power in 2005 but was forced to give up his authoritarian rule the following year after weeks of pro-democracy protests.
He has since lost all his powers and his command of the army.He has since lost all his powers and his command of the army.