KATHMANDU, Sept 17: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday said his party would withdraw all protests if other political parties agree to clarify the president’s jurisdiction through constitutional amendment. [break]
Talking to the media upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport from Hong Kong, Dahal said the Maoists will announce fresh protests after discussions within the party as previously announced protests end on Friday.
“Our demand is that there must be voting in the parliament over our resolution motion against President Dr Ram Baran Yadav,” said Dahal. “We are ready to withdraw protests if the constitution is amended to clarify the jurisdiction of the president.”
Dahal said his meeting with Chinese officials while in Hong Kong was just a ´rumor´. “There was just a courtesy call with the Chinese officials,” he said.
Dahal was accompanied by his spouse Sita, the party’s foreign department chief Krishna Bahadur Mahara and another party member Manoj Jung Thapa.
Parleys continue
Leaders of CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) held informal talks on Thursday on finding a common resolution motion as agreed on Wednesday to end the parliament´s deadlock.
"We held talks as per the spirit of yesterday (Wednesday)´s agreement. We will hold further meetings to settle it," UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel said. Pokharel and Bharat Mohan Adhikari from UML and Maoist Vice Chairmen Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Narayankaji Shrestha participated in the bilateral talks.
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