CPN-UML to lead next gov't in Nepal

KATHMANDU, May 5 (Xinhua) -- 22 political parties of Nepali Constitutional Assembly (CA) concluded here their meeting Tuesday afternoon with an agreement on forming of next government comprising the all 24 parties represented in CA.

The meeting that was held at Singha Durbar, in capital Kathmandu said that the next government will be led by Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML).

Earlier on Monday, CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress (NC) had called on 24 parties meeting after Nepali Prime Minister Prachanda declared resignation from his post.

However, only 22 parties joined the meeting except Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) and Madheshi People's Rights Forum.

Prachanda declared resignation from his post following the political chaos intensified after Nepali president rejected the government's decision to sack the army chief.

After the meeting, talking to journalist, Madhav Nepal, former General Secretary of CPN-UML said that Nepali Congress had asked his party to lead the next government which the party had accepted.

On the question of who would be the next prime minister, Nepal said that it was an internal matter of the party and would be decided Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said that the next government had to be an all party government and if some parties were not willing to join it, his party would make sure that there was some kind of understanding that these parties would cooperate and not disrupt the process of constitution building, local news website THT online quoted him as saying.

There are altogether 24 parties representing the CA with 601 CA members to draft new constitution. The CA was formed in May 28, 2008 after signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord in November, 2006, ending the decade civil war in Nepal. link...