Nepal in crisis over attempts to fire army chief

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Security forces went on high alert Monday to avert street clashes in Nepal's capital amid a government power struggle over the prime minister's attempts to fire the army chief.
The prime minister, from Nepal's Maoist party, unleashed the crisis Sunday by trying to fire the army chief because of his moves to block the enlistment into the military of former Maoist rebels. The firing sparked mass protests and was later rejected by the country's president, from the main opposition party.
Nepal's Maoists fought a bloody, 10-year war against the government before joining the political mainstream in 2006 and winning the most votes during elections last year after the Himalayan country abolished its centuries-old monarchy. However, many of the former Maoist fighters remain restricted to U.N.-monitored barracks under a peace accord.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal wants them freed and integrated into the military. But the military chief, Rookmangud Katawal, has resisted those efforts and sparred repeatedly with the government over the issue.
Dahal announced Katawal's dismissal on Sunday. However, the military falls under the command of Nepal's first democratically elected president, Ram Baran Yadav from the main opposition Nepali Congress Party, who rejected the ouster and announced Katawal's reinstatement later Sunday.
The issue has sparked a deep crisis in Nepal, where the constitution is being rewritten in the wake abolishing the monarchy and were many things remain unclear, including who has the power to fire the army chief.
Home Ministry official Navin Ghimire said security forces were placed on high alert Monday because officials anticipated trouble on the streets of Katmandu, where thousands of people planned to demonstrate both for and against Katawal.
"We are expecting trouble and prepared to stop violence in the streets. Policemen are on high alert and will be mobilized through out the capital Katmandu," Ghimire said.
Police in riot gear were guarding the main areas and patrolling the streets in Katmandu.
Dahal called an emergency meeting Monday of his Maoist party leaders, who were deciding how to react to Yadav's move to reinstate the army chief.
The earlier announcement of the army chief's dismissal had prompted a key political party to withdraw from the Maoist-led ruling coalition, threatening the survival of the country's first post-monarchy government.
The Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), the second largest party in the coalition government, withdrew from the coalition Sunday "to protest the prime minister's unilateral decision."
Leaders from several smaller parties also walked out of the Cabinet meeting after Dahal announced his decision. They remained undecided on whether to withdraw their support completely.
Political analysts said the government could be on the brink of collapse.
"It has become almost impossible for the Maoists to remain in government in the present situation," said Ameet Dhakal, editor of Republica, a leading newspaper in the capital Katmandu. "It's a big crisis for the country now."
Anger is high in Nepal, where much of the public blames the Maoists for the power outages that can last more than 16 hours a day, the fuel shortages that have made for endless lines at gas stations, and the rising price of food and household staples.
But the Maoists are still revolutionary heroes to many, especially among rural villagers who voted them into power last year in Nepal's first elections. The centuries-old monarchy was abolished soon after. link...