Date:17/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/17/stories/2008081751741400.htm

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Prachanda will be sworn in tomorrow

Prerana Marasini

KATHMANDU: President Ram Baran Yadav has invited Prime Minister Prachanda to take the oath of office and secrecy on Monday. As per to the interim Constitution, the President administers the oath of office to the Prime Minister.

Also, the three major parties — the CPN (Maoist), CPN (UML), and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) — have agreed on the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for the government.

CPN (UML) general-secretary Jhalanath Khanal said the parties reached an agreement on the ‘common programmes’, which would be signed by the three parties on Sunday and the document would be released later.

Maoist leader Dev Gurung said the CMP aims to strengthen nationality and democracy. Concluding the peace process and executing relief programmes for the displaced and conflict-affected areas are other important tasks stated in the CMP.

Meanwhile, the issue of power-sharing have not been sorted out. On Saturday, leaders held discussions but could not reach an agreement. However, they said they were nearing consensus. Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai said: “We are very close to an agreement, and tomorrow we can expect the outcome.” The government is expected to have 24 Ministries.