KATHMANDU: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav faxed a special instruction to Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal late Sunday asking him to continue in his office in the capacity of CoAS as per the interim constitution and the existing law, senior political leaders and army officials separately confirmed to The Himalayan Times late Sunday.

President Yadav took the decision after receiving an official request from 18-political parties at his office in Baluwatar.

"If anybody tries to create obstruction in your duty and responsibility, you can take action against the person(s)," the formal letter faxed to the CoAS said.

A highly-placed NA source said that there is no horizontal and vertical division in the army rank and file and all the divisions are fully under Katwal's command. The Army has also been instructed to be on full alert.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, after consultations with political parties and legal experts earlier today, also wrote to the Council of Ministers to review its decision to "retire" Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal .

"He took the decision to protect the constitution as per the request of the political parties and the legal experts as required by the Interim Constitution," a source at the President's Office said.

The President also noted that the government's decision was unconstitutional, the source said. The letter was registered at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet at 4.55 P.M.

Earlier, the President consulted with the former speaker of the House of Representatives and senior advocate Daman Nath Dhungana, and political leaders of Madheshi Janadhar Forum, Tarai Madheshi Lokatantrik Pary and Nepal Sadbhawana Party. They asked the president to take steps to protect the Constitution.

After meeting with the President, Dhungana told this daily that the sacking of the CoAS is a political issue more than a legal one therefore he sought the president to resolve it politically.