Nepal tries to resolve political deadlock

Kathmandu: The party representing former communists should spearhead Nepal's new government, its political opponents said on Wednesday, a day after the Maoists said they would form the opposition because their choice for president was rejected.

Nepal's political parties met on Wednesday to try and resolve the political stalemate, but no agreement had been reached, said Arjun Narsingh of the Nepali Congress, which received the second-largest number of votes in April elections.

Iswor Pokhrel of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) also said on Wednesday the new government should include the former guerrillas.

The Maoists secured the most votes in the April election for a Constituent Assembly, but did not win a majority of seats. Since that poll, Nepal's main political parties have been unable to agree on how to form a coalition government.

Maoist-backed independent Ramraja Singh lost Monday's presidential vote to Ram Baran Yadav, who was backed by the Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) and the Madhesi People's Rights Forum.

The Constituent Assembly dissolved the country's centuries-old monarchy in May and is supposed to rewrite the constitution and govern the nation.