Maoists start converging at city center

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 May: Hundreds of thousands of Maoists Saturday morning started marching to the Open Air Theatre in the capital where Chairman Prachanda is to address a public meeting to press the resignation of the 11-month-old government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Maoists are converging in the city center from 18 points in the capital amid heavy police deployment to counter any violence.
Fifteen of 22 ruling parties Saturday supported the beleaguered prime minister and asked him not to reign under pressure as they asked Maoists to withdraw Saunday’s indefinite 3rd Janaandolan to push a national government under Maoist leadership.
A task force of the three biggest parties, including Maoists continued efforts to break a deadlock Saturday after two rounds of talks Friday didn’t yield results.
Even as Maoists said their mass mobilization and the 3rd Janaandocal will be peaceful, police Friday seized improvised explosive devices from a hotel in Putalii Sadak in the capital.
Eleven persons, including Sirjana Sijapati, a storekeeper of the 12th battalion of Maoist Basu Smriti Brigade, were arrested.
In New Delhi, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Friday revealed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came firmly behind the Nepal government,
The support was extended when the prime ministers of Nepal and India met at the sidelines of the 16th SAARC summit in Bhutan this week.
“In his dialogue with Prime Minister Nepal, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressed his support for multiparty democracy in Nepal, support for democratic forces in that country and belief in the forward movement of Nepal’s constitution writing process.
“India supports a strong purposeful government in Nepal which Prime Minister Singh said he believed that Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and his government can give the country at this moment,” she said.
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Everest marathon 29 May

Kathmandu, 1 May: This year’s Tenzing Hillary Everest marathon will be held 29 May, organizers said.
At least 55 runners will participate,
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