THREE PARTY MEET INCONCLUSIVE ISOLATING PM KHANAL

THREE–PARTY MEET INCONCLUSIVE

Kathmandu, 13 Aug.: A meeting of the Big Three-Maoists, main opposition NC and UML leading the government, was inconclusive Saturday.
Top party leaders dispersed without serious discussion.
Prime MinisterJhalanath Khanal, who sponsored the meeting at his official residence sponsored the meeting on a crucial day.
Khanal, who is also chairman of UML, has threatened to resign Saturday without a breakthrough agreement to conclude the peace process.
Maoists have adopted a tough stance against Khanal for unilaterally announcing his decision to resign without consulting the main coalition party that supported his candidacy and nomination February.
Maoists said Friday they also won’t suggest new proposals for integration of 19,000 plus former Maoist combatants to complete the peace process.
NC is claiming leadership of a successor government of Khanal when Maoists have supported the candidacy of Second Maoist Vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.
Khanal has been isolated with the withdrawal of Maoist support as an influential section in his own party has demanded disciplinary action against the government chief for disobeying party order not to expand government by inducting a new Maoist team.
The party central committee is scheduled to meet Sunday one day after Khanal’s threatened resignation.
/Nnnn

US ENVOY RESUMES OFFICE

Kathmandu, 13 Aug.: US Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi has resumed responsibilities after short home visit.
He held discussions with Maoist deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kazi Shrestha Friday.
US embassy has asked the ministry to return a sealed embassy envelop with a letter confiscated from two Tibetan refugees traveling to USA illegally on a valid Nepali passport.
Nnnn

PRATAP KUMAT PATHAK CHAIRMAN OF EMPLOYEES’PROVIDENT FUND

Kathmandu, 13 Aug.: Pratap Kumar Patkah, secretariat ministry of general administration, has been appointed chairman of Employees’ Provident Fund.
The cabinet made the appointment Friday
The Fund manages billions of rupees in savings of government employees.
nnnn