Kathmandu, October 11:

A delegation of seven ambassadors of the European Union, including Britain, France and Germany, today met Maoist chairman Prachanda and his deputy Dr Baburam Bhattarai and discussed Nepal’s politics.

During the 90-minute meeting, the ambassadors raised concern about the possibility of derailment of the entire peace process due to the current political deadlock among the seven parties. The political deadlock has continued unresolved after the Maoists came up with proposals of declaration of a republic ahead of the constituent assembly election and all-out proportional representation for CA polls.

According to a statement issued by Dr Bhattarai’s personal assistant Bishwodip Pandey, the EU delegation, led by British Ambassador Andrew Hall, told the Maoist leadership that they were ready to extend assistance to give continuity to the peace process reached between the Maoists and the government.

The statement adds that Maoist chairman Prachanda and Dr Bhattarai assured the delegation that the peace process would not break and all protest programmes would remain peaceful and within the purview of the Comprehensive Peace Accord. “But we will be compelled to retaliate if the government resorts to suppression,” the statement quoted Prachanda and Dr Bhattarai as telling the EU delegation.

They also told the EU delegation that constituent assembly polls would not be possible unless the monarchy was rooted out ahead of the election and proportional representation system was adopted.Both the Maoist leaders also asked the EU delegation to create an environment for declaring the country a republic and PR system of election.