Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
My Profile
Top News
Reuters top ten news stories delivered to your inbox each day.
Subscribe
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
Your View
The Great Debate
Blogs
Weather
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
Your View
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Nepal government wobbles over army chief's sacking
Sun May 3, 2009 11:42am EDT
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
By Gopal Sharma
KATHMANDU (Reuters) - A key ally of Nepal's ruling Maoists withdrew support on Sunday, leaving the coalition unstable after differences over the sacking of the country's army chief earlier in the day.
The Maoists fired Rookmangud Katawal, accusing him of disobeying instructions not to hire new recruits and refusing to accept the supremacy of the civilian government over the army.
The move has angered government allies, and the second biggest grouping in the coalition, the Communist UML party, said it was walking out. A smaller partner, the Sadbhavana Party, said it was pulling out too.
"The party has decided to leave the coalition and withdraw support to the Maoists," Ishwar Pokharel, general secretary of the UML party, told reporters. "The Maoists have failed to lead the government with our confidence."
The UML's withdrawal leaves the Maoists with a slender majority in a 601-member parliament. The Maoists have 238 seats and are still supported by some small parties. The UML party has 108 members and the Sadbhavana Party has three.
The developments have plunged the impoverished Himalayan nation into crisis and should any more allies quit, it would leave the Maoist-led government in a minority and force a parliamentary vote.
Katawal too seemed bracing for a fight. He refused to accept his dismissal and was meeting other generals in his office, an army official said.
Nepal does not have a history of military coups, but the move could wreck a 2006 peace pact which ended a decade-long civil war that pitted the army against the Maoists.
A meeting of all political parties -- excluding the Maoists but including their allies in the coalition -- was scheduled for later on Sunday, opposition officials said.
Party officials and political analysts said more allies could desert the Maoists.
Hundreds of activists of the opposition Nepali Congress party burned tires on the streets of the capital Kathmandu in protest against the decision. Rival Maoist supporters also rallied but there was no violence.
The Nepali Congress said the Maoists were trying to impose "totalitarian" rule by bringing the army under their control. The government allies say they are angry because the decision to sack Katawal was made without consulting them.
UNEASY TIES WITH ARMY
The Maoists say the move against Katawal was to establish "civilian supremacy" over the army, which was once seen as loyal to the now deposed monarchy.
The former rebels emerged as the single largest party in a constituent assembly election last year that is tasked with running Nepal until a new constitution is written by May 2010. Continued...
View article on single page
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
Yahoo!
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
Three dead in south Yemen clashes, U.S. urges calm
Green Business
Reuters Green Business
Reuters introduces a new section dedicated to the emerging green technology sector, featuring five people to watch in the business of green and our global green portfolio. Full Coverage
More International News
Three dead in south Yemen clashes, U.S. urges calm
Iraq rules out extension of U.S. withdrawal dates
France captures 11 suspected Somali pirates
Pakistan's Imran Khan barred from Karachi
Six climbers killed in Austrian Alps avalanche
More International News...
More News
Nepal Maoists sack army chief
9:13am EDT
Nepal Maoists sack army chief, instability seen
7:15am EDT
Editor's Choice
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
SCENARIOS: What the new swine flu might do
Buffett dispenses gloom at Berkshire fest
Hong Kong hotel quarantine move stirs controversy
Buffett dispenses gloom at Berkshire fest
Berlusconi says he world's most popular leader
Mexico says flu epidemic past peak, declining
Obama says financial sector to shrink
Apple using iPhone to play AT&T against Verizon?
Taliban behead two Pakistani officials in Swat
Former politician and football star Jack Kemp dies
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Asia on H1N1 alert
Hong Kong hotel guests quarantined
Italian PM to divorce - reports
Israeli air strike hits Gaza
Hospital "hit by Sri Lankan army"
Calm in Paris as flu confirmed
Chancellor Merkel underwear
Mexico hits out at neighbours
Pirates release Filipino crew
U.S. flu cases rise, Texas braces
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.