Nepal's 8 parties agree to amend interim constitution

The major eight political parties in Nepal reached consensus on Sunday to amend the Interim Constitution.

After meeting at Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's residence in Kathmandu on Sunday morning, leaders of the ruling Seven-party Alliance (SPA) and the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (formerly known as guerilla) agreed to amend the Interim Constitution as per the prime minister's Feb. 7 address to the nation.

The Interim Constitution was promulgated on Jan. 15 as per agreements between SPA and CPN in November, 2006.

The amendment is to constitutionally guarantee the federal structure of the state and add election constituencies as per the population growth, especially in southern Nepal's Terai plains.

The eight parties' decision would be presented to Sunday's session of the Interim Parliament after it is approved at the cabinet meeting on Sunday afternoon.

Source: Xinhua