Nepal’s Former Maoist Rebels Agree to Rejoin Government

Nepal’s former communist rebels have agreed to rejoin the government in a political deal that includes abolishing the country’s centuries-old monarchy.

The Maoists ended a political stalemate Sunday, signing a 23-point agreement with the country’s six other political parties. The group had quit the government in September, after demanding election reform and an immediate end to the monarchy.

Under Sunday’s deal, a new Constituent Assembly is to be elected by mid-April of next year. The assembly’s first decision is likely to be to declare Nepal a republic.

Political leaders also agreed to changes in the election process. Under the plan, voters will elect 240 assembly members directly and 335 other candidates based on proportional representation, with parties receiving seats based in proportion to the number of votes they win.

Some 13,000 Nepalese died during the country’s 10-year civil war. The settlement between Maoist rebels and the government followed mass protests that forced Nepal’s King Gyanendra to end an unpopular dictatorship.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

by VOA News

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