KATHMANDU - Nepal’s ruling alliance and Maoist rebels on Saturday approved the draft of an interim constitution, a key step to implement their landmark peace deal ending a conflict which has killed thousands, negotiators said. The document, an interim law that paves the way for Maoists to join a provisional parliament and government, was signed by top leaders of the alliance including Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the Maoist rebel leader Prachanda.“This is yet another major achievement for the establishment of peace in Nepal,” said Bharat Mohan Adhikary, a senior leader of the Communist-UML party, the second biggest group in the seven-party coalition. “The prime minister will carry out the work of the head of state and the king will have no right in state affairs,” Adhikary told reporters.
The draft was approved after three days of intense negotiations between the two parties over several issues — including whether King Gyanendra should remain the interim head of state until elections for a constituent assembly.
The assembly will prepare a permanent constitution for Nepal and decide the future of the monarch who was stripped of his political powers after Gyanendra was forced to restore democracy in April following weeks of angry street protests