mubarak

ANOTHER BREAKTHROUGH

Kathmandu, 22 Aug.: The leaders of the High-Level Political Committee (HLPC) and Federal Socialist Party have agreed to finalize all the contentious issues pertaining to the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election through an all-side

political conference, RSS reports..

During the talks held this evening at the Secretariat of the HLPC, the two sides have agreed to organize the political conference to address the demands of all parties and sit for talks after holding preparations within two/three days.

During the talks, leaders of the Federal Socialist Party demanded to keep the same number of seats (335) under the proportional electoral system and organize the all-party political conference.

In response, the leaders of the HLPC responded positively, forwarding the necessary process ahead.

After the talks, leaders of both sides said that the talks were held positively and in a friendly manner.

Chairman of the Federal Socialist Party Ashok Rai said that the meeting was conducted in a friendly environment and the talks were positive.

He said agreement has been made to find the consensus in all issues through the political consensus.

Likewise, CPN (UML) leader Raghuji Panta said the HLPC was positive to increase the seats under the proportional electoral system and organize the all-party roundtable conference.

Similarly, Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsing KC said the leaders of the HLPC expressed their opinions clearly regarding the possible agreement in all issues expect government change and change in the spirit of the 11-point agreement and 25-point order.

Leader KC claimed that all the conflicting issues would be finalized by August 31.

Nnnn

VOTERS UPDATE

Kathmandi, 22 Aug,: At a time when a day is to go before the expiry of period extended for voters´ enrollment, the Election Commission (EC) has so far registered 106,015 voters across the country during the additional timeline, RSS reeeeeeports..

The EC enrolled total 25,384 voters throughout the country today alone. According to EC Spokesperson Bir Bahadur Rai, as many as 7,500 voters registered their names in Kathmandu today.

The Kathmandu Election Office and District Administration Office were seen with big crowd of voters. Some 40 desks were set up to enroll voters in the offices, said Spokesperson Rai.

The EC had again started the task of voters´ enrollment for a week from August 17 at the recommendation of the High Level Political Committee.

The Spokesperson informed that Kathmandu saw the highest voters´ enrollment while the voters´ registration was only 21 in Manang.

The EC has made preparation to some desks from Friday to address growing crows of voters for enrollment.

Nnnn

REQUEST TO GIVE UP FAST

Kathmandu, 22 Aug.: Minister for Health Bidhyadhar Mallik has urged Chairwoman of Nepal Sadbhavana Party Sarita Giri to take medical treatment and sit for talks with the government, RSS writes..

Giri is staging the hunger strike at Shanti Batika, Ratna Park, since August 13 demanding to delimit the election constituencies based on population growth in Madhes.

Minister Mallik, who visited leader Giri along with Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dr Pravin Mishra, urged Giri to accept medical checkup with the team of medicos sent by the government and sit for talks.

However, Giri rejected the health checkup facility complaining that the government sent the doctors without informing her and for not paying any heed to her demands.

After meeting with Giri, Minister Mallik said that the government would send an official letter inviting her party for talks.

Meanwhile, rights activist Krishna Pahadi, Charan Prasain, Dinesh Tripathi, Chairwoman of Sancharika Samuha Nirmala Sharma inquired about Giri´s health condition.

Nnnn

DAHAL SPEAK

Kathmandu,,22 Aug,: UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the new constitution could not be promulgated due to the liberal policy followed by his party,RSS writes from Banepa.. Inaugurating the first conference of YCL Nepal Tamsaling State Committee here Thursday, he said the liberal policy adopted by his party in forging a consensus with the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML worked as an obstacle in drafting the new constitution. "The new constitution could have been formulated had an agreement been reached to decide the contentious issues through voting", he said. The high-level political committee has decided to promulgate the new constitution within one year of the new CA election, Chairman Dahal said but added that there was a risk of the constitution not being promulgated again if the people do not give the UCPN (Maoist) a complete majority. Some 350 representatives from 10 districts in the state are taking part in the two-day conference that will elect a new leadership.

Nnnn

MUBARAK LEAVES PRISON

Kathmandu, 22 Aug.:: Egypt´s ousted president Hosni Mubarak was flown from prison by helicopter to a military hospital Thursday after he was cleared for conditional release while standing trial, an interior ministry general told AFP in Cairo..

Mubarak will be held under house arrest at the hospital on the orders of the prime minister. The 85-year-old is believed to be suffering from a heart

Condition.

nnnn