Prachanda, Sushil Koirala talks

Kathmandu, 18 May: Maoist Chairman President and NC Acting President Tuesday Sushil Koirala Tuesday morning discussed extension of the constituent assembly (CA) tenure, formation of a national government and the resettlement of and integration of Maoist combatants with only 10 days remaining to promulgate a constitution to institutionalize a republic.
Maoists have demanded the formation of a national government and amendment to the constitution for consensus politics to replace majority government rule as pre-conditions for extension of the CA tenure pushed by NC and UML.
NS has also set a pre-condition for a package solution for the formation of a national government to extend the CA tenure.
NC is also pushing a government under its leadership.
The ruling parties proposed the extension through an 8th amendment to the interim constitution challenged as illegal in a public interest litigation filed at the supreme court.
Nepal is heading towards a political crisis.
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Pushkar Shah atop Everest

Kathmandu, 18 May: Atop the 8848meters high Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak, cyclist Pushkar Shah planted the flags of 142 countries be bicycled through.
Appa Sherpa is also attempting to improve a personal record by scaling the peak for the 20th time this spring.
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Rato Machindranath chariot towed

Kathmandu, 18 May: The Rato Machindranath chariot was towed from Pulchowk to Gabahal in Patan Monday.
The festival this year was delayed by one month because of manamas.
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Naxalites kill 35 persons

Kathmandu, 18 May: Maoist [Naxals] rebels blew up a bus filled with police and civilians on Monday as it drove through central India killing at leas 35 people, police said, according to a AP report from New Delhi.
Nineteen civilians and 16 police officers were killed in the attack that took place in the state of Chhattisgarh, which has been the site of fierce fighting between Maoists and government forces in recent months, said Amarnath Upadhaya, a senior police officer.
The bus was hit by a rebel landmine said Rajendra Kumar Vij, another top senior police officer in the area. Amarnath Upadhaya, another police officer in the area said the front of the bus was destroyed and 40 to 60 people on board.
The Press Trust of India reported that at least 40 people killed in the attack.
(Note: Federal and state governments in India refuse to negotiate with Naxals even as the rebellion has spread to 20 of 29 states. New Delhi pushed talks between Nepal’s parliamentary parties and the Himalayan state’s Maoists who were brought into the political mainstream.. The peace process has now hit rough weather after Maoists emerged victorious in the April 2008 constituent assembly elections and are pushing for a communist state in Nepal.)
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