Maoists join Nepals government

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Maoists join Nepals government

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Nepal's new Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal swore-in four Maoists. Maoists are joining the cabinet and taking up posts as ministers, ending weeks of uncertainty over whether or not the former rebels would join his government.

05 March,2011 07:04 pm

Khanal, who was elected Prime Minister a month ago after a seven-month political stalemate with the help of former Maoist rebels, administered the oath of office and secrecy to four Maoists at the presidential residence in Kathmandu.Disagreements over the distribution of ministerial portfolios had delayed the formation of Khanals cabinet. Krishna Bahadur Mahara was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Information. Top Bahadur Rayamajhi is now Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Barsha Man Pun is Minister for Peace and Reconstruction and Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma is Minister for Tourism.The government has until May 28 to finish drafting a new constitution and resolve the fate of thousands of former Maoist soldiers who have been confined to camps since the end of the war. In 2006, a peace deal ended the war between Maoists and the then-royal government in which more than 16,000 people were killed.The Maoists won the most seats in the 2008 parliamentary elections and the monarchy was abolished. But the Maoist-led coalition was short lived and leader Pracahnda resigned after conflict with the president over the control of the national army. Nepals government has been in turmoil ever since.