Nepal interim gov't., Maoists reach deal

KATHMANDU, Nepal, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Nepal's 240-year-old monarchy, now led by King Gyanendra, may become history under a deal the interim government has reached with dissenting Maoists.

The former rebels, who quit the interim government in September over the monarchy issue, agreed to the deal reached over the weekend, Nepalese media reports said.

The agreement calls for general elections by next April to elect a 601-member constituent assembly, which will designate Nepal as a republic, thereby ending the monarchy. The agreement requires the former Maoist rebels to rejoin the government.

The 23-point agreement brings to an end nearly three months of political chaos that had threatened the delicate peace process. Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala got his way in convincing the Maoists they must await the elections before getting their demands, while the Maoists managed to win some of their demands for proportional representation.

The prime minister will perform all responsibilities of the head of state until the elections. However, the parliament can end the monarchy earlier if the royalty interferes with the election process, eKantipur.com reported.

Nepalnews.com reported the agreement calls for 335 of the 601 seats to be chosen through proportional representation, 240 through direct election and 26 nominated by the Cabinet.