TEAM BEGINS INVESTIGATING PRACHANDA SLAP Kathmandu, 17 Nov.: A three-member government team headed by AIG Nebaraj Dhakal Saturday began probe of a public slap on the left cheek of Maoist Chairman Prachanda Friday. A former Maoist disgruntled cadre slapped the Maoist boss. The team has been asked to submit a report in seven days. nnnn MINISTER SHARMA RULES OUT PM’S RESIGNATION Kathmandu, 17 Nov.: Minister for Education Dinanath Sharma has ruled out the possibility of resignation of the Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, RSS reports. "The incumbent government will not step down under any circumstances until and unless a new constitution is guaranteed”, said Sharma while talking to media persons at Bharatpur Airport on Saturday. Claiming that a conspiracy is being hatched to foil the constitution drafting process, minister Sharma underlined the need of raising a firm voice against such 'conspiracy'. Referring to the Friday's attack on Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal during the party tea reception in the Capital, Sharma termed the act as an expression by the reactionary and anti-federalism forces. Nnnn UML PROBING CORRUPTION CHARGE AGAINST FORMER MINISTER BELBASI Kathmandu, 17 Nov.: The CPN-ML has formed a three-member committee led by NP Acharya to investigate the corruption charges against its leader and former minister for Labor and Employment, Kumar Belbase, during his term as the labour Minister. RSS reports.. Belbase was accused of taking bribe from manpower agencies and had resigned from his post some two weeks ago, following the directions from Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. The 12th full meeting of the CPN-ML central committee has decided to form the committee, according to party General Secretary CP Mainali. The other members of the committee are party politburo members Gopalmani Gautam and Dinanath Ghimire. The committee is assigned to submit its report within mid- December. The ML suspended its central member Bhasker Kafle on the accusation of his involvement in the same scandal. The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is carrying out an investigation into the corruption case against former minister Belbase, it is learnt. nnnn