Nepalese parliament set to meet

King Gyanendra reinstated the assembly on 24 April in a bid to end almost three weeks of nationwide protests in which at least 14 people died.

But the swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was delayed due to ill health.

Mr Koirala, a veteran politician, was appointed by King Gyanendra , but has a lung infection.

The former prime minister and current head of the Nepali Congress party was the choice of the coalition of seven political parties which led the campaign for the king to restore democracy.

The 85-year-old was not present at a huge Kathmandu rally on Thursday to celebrate the king's decision to recall parliament. Medical sources said Mr Koirala had been receiving oxygen for an unspecified lung problem for most of the day.

"Doctors say he has greatly recovered but the oath ceremony at 1100 (0515 GMT) has been postponed," Nepali Congress spokesman Krishna Prasad Sitaula said. "It is not possible for him to go to the parliament today."

"Parliament will sit but it will only be a formal sitting," he said.

'Much to prove'

Local media said that around 200 of the 205 members of parliament would attend the session, which starts at 1300 local time (0715 GMT).

The king dissolved parliament in May 2002 after it failed to renew a state of emergency imposed to fight the rebels.

The BBC's Dan Isaacs says once parliament reconvenes, the politicians have much to prove to their supporters after years of bickering and infighting.

They face two key tasks - to restart a dialogue with the Maoists as a prelude to drawing them into the political process, and to address the issue of elections to a constituent assembly which could debate and draw up a new constitution.

What this would mean for the future of the monarchy is not clear.

Our correspondent says that there is little popular support for anything more than a ceremonial monarchy emerging from that process.

But this would require fundamental compromises on all sides, including from the Maoists, who since 1996 have conducted a violent campaign for an end to the monarchy.

Source: BBC More

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