VOA常速英语2007年-Political Agreement Reached to Abolish Nepal's

The six parties in Nepal's interim¹ government and the Maoists have reached agreement on abolishing the Himalayan nation's monarchy³, clearing the way for twice-delayed national elections. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from our South Asia bureau in New Delhi.

Nepal will become a republic after elections next year if an agreement among the key political elements in the Himalayan state is implemented⁴.

Nepal's lawmakers began discussion of an amendment⁵ to the interim constitution on Monday, in order to enact⁶ the agreement reached by the political parties Sunday.

The Maoists, who plunged⁷ the country into turmoil⁸ again when they quit the interim government three months ago, confirm they had reached a compromise with six other political parties.

A , C.P. Gajurel, says the Maoists decided⁹ to yield on their demand for a full proportional representation electoral system.

"Our party decided that we'll accept the decision in spite of our disagreement in the electoral process," said Gajurel. "We have agreed to go for the poll."

The Maoists, who waged a decade-long civil war against the monarchy, also backed away from their demand that Nepal immediately be declared a republic. Under the agreement, that is to happen after the election in 2008 to select a 601-seat national assembly.

Maoist Politburo member Gajurel says if Nepal's unpopular King Gyanendra, who has already been stripped of all but symbolic¹¹ authority, tries to interfere¹² with the process the interim parliament will have the power to immediately dethrone the monarch².

"If there is evidence that he's involved in disrupting the process the execution of a republic will be done before the election," he said.

The Maoists entered the interim government in April this year following a peace pact¹³ last year. But they quit just four months later when their demands for the immediate¹⁰ abolition¹⁴ of the monarchy and a proportional electoral system were not met.

Elections are now expected to take place in mid-April.

That would institute a fully¹⁵ democratic system for one of Asia's most destitute¹⁶ countries, following an era of feudal¹⁷ rule, which ended with the civil war and a brief grab for absolute power by the king.