Nepal prime minister resigns amid Maoist pressure

Katmandu: Nepal's prime minister has announced his resignation, bowing to pressure from opposition Maoists who have been demanding his ouster in parliament and on the streets.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said in a televised speech Wednesday that he decided to resign to end political deadlock and help the peace process that ended years of insurgency in the Himalayan nation.

The former communist rebels have been protesting for months to demand his resignation and a new national government headed by them.