Talks resume to end deadlock with Maoists

KATHMANDU, Nepal, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Political parties in Nepal’s interim government met Thursday to resolve a dispute with Maoists over constituent assembly elections next month.

The Maoists quit the coalition last month to press demands for the abolition of the Himalayan state’s 238-year-old monarchy before the scheduled Nov. 22 elections and for making Nepal a republic. The Maoist action has threatened to delay the election and disrupt the peace process which helped end the decade-long Maoist rebellion last year.

The former rebels also have demanded proportional representation in the elections.

The government of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has refused to go along with the proportional representation demand and says the future of the monarchy must be decided by the elected constituent assembly and not by the interim government.

The latest talks were called to consider some new options proposed by the Maoists, Nepalnews.com reported. However, other reports said a compromise may be difficult at this stage as the deadline for filing nominations ends Friday.