BIG THREE SUMMIT MONDAY

Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: A summit of the Big Three is being held Monday ahead of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav’s deadline to assemble a national consensus government by Wednesday.
A scheduled meeting wasn’t held Sunday because Maoist Chairman Parchanda was out of town in Chitwan.
The president extended the deadline by five days at the request of parties in parliament after the first deadline couldn’t be met.
The three parties, UCPN (Maoist), NC and UML, have staked claims to lead the government.
NC leader Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat and UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel Sunday ruled out a government led by Maoists even after the main opposition Saturday handed over the chain of command and control of 19,000 plus former combatants from the party to a special committee headed by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Prachanda is the Maoist candidate for premier.
The committee monitors, supervises and resettles the former fighters.
Prime Minister Nepal Sunday briefed the president on the transfer of command and control at a meeting Sunday.
nnnn


MAOIST SHOT DEAD IN RAUTAHAT

Kathmandu, 24 Jan. A Maoist was shot dead in Rautahat Sunday
evening.
She has been identified as Hustana Khatun.
Khatun died of head injuries.
She was shot while returning home to her village from the field.
nnnn