Kathmandu, November 12, 2007

The Nepali Congress (NC) and UML today resumed talks to reach an agreement on issues thrown up by the recent parliamentary vote favouring an all-out proportional representation system for the Constituent Assembly polls.

NC acting president Shushil Koirala and other leaders Minendra Rijal, Gopal Pahadi and UML leaders Jhala Nath Khanal and Amrit Bohara today held discussions on how the seven political parties can reach a political agreement on the two issues. “It was a homework meeting for the all-party meeting scheduled for next Monday. We talked about the recent house voting and how political parties should deal with it,” Nepali Congress spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC told this daily. They would also hold discussions with Maoist leaders before the all-party meeting, KC said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala held talks with senior leaders of the Nepali Congress on how to face the political parties when the winter session of Parliament begins on Monday.

The Left parties are expected to raise the issue of Koirala’s unwillingness to respect the parliamentary vote. The NC leaders advised Koirala to defend the constitution and not move proposals which militate against it. Now, Koirala plans to talk to other parties “in the avatar of the defender of the constitution.” Indications are that rather than moving any proposals as directed by Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang at the end of the special session, Koirala plans to present himself as the leader of the Nepali Congress and a head of state.

Two killed, 62 hurt in separate mishaps

Pokhara, November 12, 2007

Two persons were killed and over 62 hurt in separate mishaps in 24 hours. One person was killed and 60 passengers were injured when a bus heading to Kaskikot VDC to Pokhara via Sarangkot of Kaski met with an accident at Miruwachowk in Pokhara-2 at 9 am today.

Passenger Mohan Lal Shrestha, 45, of Kaskikot-6 who was critically hurt died while undergoing treatment in Pokhara-based Manipal Teaching Hospital, the police said, adding, over 70 passengers were travelling in the bus. The Kaski District Police Office took control over bus driver Ram Bahadur Thapa and has been investigating on him, DSP Bhojraj Ojha said.

The accident occurred as brakes failed due to slope and turnings, driver Thapa said.

A report from Dhading said traffic was halted on Prithvi Highway for 14 hours after a person was killed when a bus heading to Birgunj from Kathmandu hit him at Adamghat of Dhading last night. Irate locals staged demonstration and obstructed the highway after the bus killed a local Nanda Lal Shrestha, 57, police said.

A report from Nepalgunj said Pyuthan correspondent of Annapurna Post, Devendra Barma, who was riding his motorbike, was hurt in an accident at Bijuwar of Pyuthan yesterday.