From: "Magnus Bernhardsen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> WIRE: 07/22/2001 1:01 pm ET Nepal selects new prime minister, who vows to deal with Maoist insurgency The Associated Press KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) Sher Bahadur Deuba, known in this Himalayan nation for his willingness to accommodate opposition parties and for the shaky coalition government he once led, was chosen prime minister Sunday to head the ninth government since democracy was restored in 1990. Deuba, 55, said his first task will be dealing with a Maoist insurgency that has left more than 1,600 people dead since 1996, when the guerrillas mounted a campaign to install a communist government. "I will be talking to the opposition parties first where we will decide on a common approach to deal with the Maoist problem," Deuba told reporters. "Very soon we will have a dialogue with the Maoist rebels." King Gyanendra, the constitutional monarch, officially appointed Deuba to the post after 72 out of 113 lawmakers from the Nepali Congress voted for him in a leadership election. Deuba defeated his only opponent, Sushil Koirala, the 63-year-old nephew of Girija Prasad Koirala, who resigned as prime minister Thursday after leading Nepal for most of the last 11 years since the country's absolute monarchy ended in a popular revolt. Koirala's 15-month stint as prime minister ended soon after the 76-year-old leader was blamed for embarrassing setbacks suffered by security forces at the hands of Maoist insurgents and for failing to provide adequate protection for Nepal's royal family. His government was also mired in a bribery scandal involving the national airline. The Maoist rebels, who model themselves after Peru's Shining Path guerrillas, have stepped up their attacks since the June 1 palace massacre, when Crown Prince Dipendra shot to death King Birendra, Queen Aiswarya and other family members and then committed suicide. Deuba, the new prime minister, led an unwieldy coalition government for 18 months between 1995 and 1997 but was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament when two of his own lawmakers failed to show up. He is known as a flexible leader who tries to accommodate opposition parties. Last year, Deuba persuaded the Maoist rebels to agree for the first time to peace talks with the government. He said the government had failed to respond. Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
