DANG JEEP ACCIDENT TOLL INCREASES TO 12 UPDATE Kathmandu, 30 May: Death toll in Wednesday morning’s Dang jeep accident has increased to12 and another 23 have been injured, police said. The dead are all from Dang. The overcrowded bus fell 500 meters off the road. Nnnn SUPREME COURT ASKS PM TO FURNISH REPLY IN 10 DAYS Kathmandu, 30 May: A single bench of the supreme court Wednesday asked Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to firnish a written reply to the apex court in 10 day days following a writ challenging the legality of the government move to hold CA elections 22 November. A special bench of the court will hear arguments on the serious issue, the Court said. nnnn STUDENTS PROTEST CALL FOR 22 NOV. CA ELECTIONS Kathmandu, 30 May: Students from 10 unions affiliated with parties, including NC and UML, protested in front of campuses in the capital opposing government announcement of constituent elections 22 November. They called the action of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai illegal and said protests will continue until the premier’s resignation. nnnn PRESIDENT CONSULTATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY Kathmandu, 30 May: President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav held consultations with representatives of civil society Wednesday. He consulted lawyers, engineers, doctors, journalists and other professionals following Sunday’s announcement of fresh elections for the constituent assembly (CA) without promulgating a constitution. There’s no provision for a second round of vote for CA in an interim constitution. Premier Bhattarai’s move has generally been called illegal and Unconstitutional. President Prem Bahadur Khadka said society representatives asked the president to end a deadlock by forming a consensus government. nnnn DUES TO FORMER LAWMAKERS TOBE SETTLED THURSDAY Kathmandu, 30 May: Dues of former lawmakers will be settled Thursday, an official of the parliament said Wednesday. The former members of parliament will receive a month’s salary and two air tickets. Altogether Rs 9 billion was spent in courts draft a constitution which was never written. Foreign donors contributed a hefty sum to prepare the assembly hall—just the tip of the iceberg. nnnnt