Maoists pull out of Nepal negotiations

KATHMANDU, Nepal, June 21 (UPI) -- Nepalese Maoists have pulled out of negotiations to form a new government, accusing other parties of stalling in a bid to block its participation.

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal told Ekantipur.com Saturday that his party will not stay in the current provisional government, saying, "Yes, our ministers resigned from their posts." Dahal said the resignations will become official Sunday.

Dahal blamed Prime Minister and Nepali Congress Party President Girija Prasad Koirala for delaying the formation of a Nepal's first government since becoming a republic.

The country's three main parties, the Nepali Congress Party, the communist UML Party and the Maoist CPN Party, were locked in negotiations over what Nepal's government would look like. The Maoists have won the most assembly seats and so claim they should have the presidency, but the Napali Congress believes it should go to Koirala because he is considered the architect of a peace process that ended Nepal's bloody civil war.

The Maoists were upset that a Sunday deadline was thrown out and negotiations adjourned until Wednesday, Ekantipur.com reported. CPN party leaders viewed the change as "a conspiracy" by the Nepali Congress Party.