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Maoists 'quit Nepal government' | Maoists 'quit Nepal government' |
(10 minutes later) | |
Former Maoist rebels in Nepal say they have quit the interim government. | Former Maoist rebels in Nepal say they have quit the interim government. |
The Maoists have been demanding the abolition of the monarchy ahead of constituent assembly elections due to be held in November. | The Maoists have been demanding the abolition of the monarchy ahead of constituent assembly elections due to be held in November. |
The prime minister says the constituent assembly itself must decide the monarchy's fate. Analysts say the Maoists will do badly in the polls. | The prime minister says the constituent assembly itself must decide the monarchy's fate. Analysts say the Maoists will do badly in the polls. |
The Maoist move is the biggest setback to peace efforts since the rebels ended their insurgency last November. | The Maoist move is the biggest setback to peace efforts since the rebels ended their insurgency last November. |
More than 13,000 people were killed during their 10-year fight for a communist republic. | More than 13,000 people were killed during their 10-year fight for a communist republic. |
Failure | Failure |
The Maoists and the other seven parties in the interim government had been meeting in the capital, Kathmandu, to try to iron out their differences over the monarchy. | The Maoists and the other seven parties in the interim government had been meeting in the capital, Kathmandu, to try to iron out their differences over the monarchy. |
King Gyanendra's future is the centre of debate | King Gyanendra's future is the centre of debate |
"We have pulled out from the government this afternoon as the talks failed to reach an understanding on the immediate abolition of monarchy and a proportional election system," a senior Maoist, Dev Gurung, told the AFP news agency. | "We have pulled out from the government this afternoon as the talks failed to reach an understanding on the immediate abolition of monarchy and a proportional election system," a senior Maoist, Dev Gurung, told the AFP news agency. |
One of the Maoists in the interim cabinet, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, blamed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for the breakdown in talks. | One of the Maoists in the interim cabinet, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, blamed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for the breakdown in talks. |
"The prime minister was not ready to negotiate so his party is responsible," Mr Mahara said. | "The prime minister was not ready to negotiate so his party is responsible," Mr Mahara said. |
He ruled out any return to armed conflict. "Now we will focus on peaceful protests to meet our demands." | He ruled out any return to armed conflict. "Now we will focus on peaceful protests to meet our demands." |
Mass rally | Mass rally |
Correspondents say that Prime Minister Koirala has taken a firm line in refusing to bow to the Maoists' demand that King Gyanendra be stripped of his title and the monarchy abolished. | Correspondents say that Prime Minister Koirala has taken a firm line in refusing to bow to the Maoists' demand that King Gyanendra be stripped of his title and the monarchy abolished. |
Meanwhile, thousands of Maoists have gathered in Kathmandu for a rally in which their leaders are expected to outline their new strategy. | |
The civil war brought a decade of bloodshed to Nepal. Human rights groups regularly accused both the Maoists and the military of gross human rights abuses. | The civil war brought a decade of bloodshed to Nepal. Human rights groups regularly accused both the Maoists and the military of gross human rights abuses. |
The fighting brought further poverty and misery to one of the poorest countries in the world. | The fighting brought further poverty and misery to one of the poorest countries in the world. |
King Gyanendra was forced to surrender his powers in April 2006 after the Maoists joined forces with a coalition of seven political parties in a sustained campaign of street protests against his direct rule. | King Gyanendra was forced to surrender his powers in April 2006 after the Maoists joined forces with a coalition of seven political parties in a sustained campaign of street protests against his direct rule. |