'NC will hold govt if Maoists back down'

KATHMANDU: Hot on the heels of UCPN (Maoist)’s refusal to join the new government, a Nepali Congress (NC) leader has hinted at lending support to sustain the Jhala Nath Khanal-led government.
NC member Bhishma Raj Angdembe said that his party will play the role of a responsible party for peace and constitution by saving the government from toppling.
The NC leader tried to rekindle hopes of the CPN-UML a day after the UCPN (Maoist) decided not be a partner in the UML-led coalition after they remained at odds over a plum ministry.
“The NC will take an appropriate decision for peace and constitution building by playing the role of a responsible party,” said the NC leader at a programme organised in the Capital today.
Newly elected Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal is having a hard time after the UCPN (Maoist)—whose support played a crucial role in electing him as the prime minister—decided not to join the government following a power-sharing row in the new Cabinet.
The NC leader went on to claim that the secret seven-point pact between UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chairman Khanal has betrayed the country rather than resolving the country. He added the pact has stymied the path to consensus.
“The agreement to become the prime minister in tandem and the issue of army integration has pushed the country towards confusion,” he said. “This has provoked the obstructionist politics. It has further pushed back the country from the road to institutionalising the historic achievement,” said Angdembe.
The negotiations between the two parties broke down on Sunday after the former.

UCPN (M) reiterates it won't be part of govt until UML commits to 7-pt pact

Kathmandu: The UCPN (Maoist) has reiterated that it won't join the government until the UML expresses its commitment to implement the seven-point agreement signed between the two parties just before last week's prime ministerial election.
A meeting of the Maoist standing committee on Friday approved the decision of the party leadership not to join the government.
"The party has decided to ask the UML to clarify its position on the seven-point agreement," Maoist spokpesrson Dina Nath Sharma told reporters after the meeting held at the party headquarters, Peris Danda, Koteshwor.
Following several rounds of failed negotiations for sharing of portfolios, the Maoist party yesterday decided to stay out of the government and continue support from outside.
Meanwhile, the Standing Committee also decided to resume the cadre training programme which had been cancelled following internal dispute. It also decided to mark the 'people's war day' on February 13.

College student killed in attack

Kathmandu: A college student has died of head-injuries he sustained in an attack by students of another college in Birgunj on Friday.
A college student has died of head-injuries he sustained in an attack by students of another college in Birgunj on Friday.
The deceased identified as Prabin Kumar Singh, 18, of Birgunj-18 died while being rushed to the Narayani Hospital today morning. He was studying in grade 12 at the National Academy.
According to eyewitness accounts, Singh and his friend engaged in a heated argument with a gang that stopped them at Panitanki chowk. One of the gang members then hit Singh on the head with an iron rod and fled from the scene.
Doctors at the hospital said Singh died of excessive blood loss from the wound sustained on his head.
Police arrested Vicky Gupta of Siddhartha International College for his involvement in the incident. Other members of his gang are apparently on the run and police said they are trying to locate them.
Meanwhile, a group of students have closed down Birgunj bazaar to protest the incident. Police have been deployed to make sure the situation doesn’t spiral out of control.

Three UML ministers sworn in without portfolios

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal unveiled a three-member cabinet on Thursday, comprising ministers from his party, CPN-UML, in the wake of dispute with the main coalition partner, UCPN (Maoist), over key portfolios which prompted the Maoist decision not to join the government.
PM Khanal administered oath of office and secrecy to Bharat Mohan Adhikari as Deputy Prime Minister and Bishnu Poudel and Ganga Lal Tuladhar as cabinet ministers. The newly appointed cabinet members are yet to be given portfolios.
The low-key swearing-in ceremony took place in Shital Niwas in the presence of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav with no key leader from the UCPN (Maoist), and even the UML, showing up.
Earlier this week, the UML had proposed Adhikari as Deputy PM with finance portfolio while Poudel and Tuladhar were named as home minister and education minister respectively.
Khanal unveiled the cabinet soon after the UCPN (Maoist) decided not to join the government. However, UML leaders said they were hopeful of the Maoist party coming into the cabinet when it gets full shape "within a few days".

US man Raymond Davis shot Pakistan pair 'in cold blood'

A Pakistani police chief has said a US citizen in custody over the deaths of two men in Lahore last month was guilty of "cold-blooded murder".
Lahore city police chief Aslam Tareen told a news conference that one of the men was killed while running away.
He spoke after Raymond Davis was remanded for another 14 days following an appearance in a Lahore court.
Mr Davis, 36, has admitted he shot the men, but says he acted in self-defence because they were trying to rob him.
The court has ordered the Pakistani government to clarify US embassy claims that Mr Davis has diplomatic immunity.
He is charged on two counts - murder and possession of illegal weapons.
'Tremendous pressure'
Mr Tareen told a news conference: "The police investigation and forensic report show it was not self-defence.
"His plea has been rejected by police investigators. He gave no chance to them to survive. 
Mr Tareen also said that forensic evidence did not support Mr Davis's claim that one of the motorbike riders had approached his car window, cocked his gun and pointed it at him.
No fingerprints had been uncovered on the triggers of the pistols found on the bodies of the two men, he said.
And tests had shown that the bullets remained in the magazine of the men's gun, not the chamber.
"It was cold-blooded murder," said Mr Tareen. "Eyewitnesses have told police that he directly shot at them and he kept shooting even when one was running away. It was an intentional murder."
Police officials have previously said that the two men were street robbers, although conspiracy theorists have suggested that the pair were members of Pakistani intelligence.
Mr Davis was taken to court very early on Friday to avoid the media and possible protests, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says.
The American has reportedly been sent to the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore. His next hearing is scheduled for 25 February.
He is said to have told police that he acted in self-defence during the incident on 27 January because the motorcycle rider and his pillion passenger tried to hijack his vehicle at gunpoint.
As his colleagues came to his aid, their vehicle ran over and killed a third person.
Mr Tareen said police had written five times to the US consulate in Lahore, requesting access to the consulate vehicle involved in that collision.
It is not clear what Mr Davis's role in Lahore was - American officials in the capital Islamabad have said only that he was an US embassy employee who was part of the "administrative and technical staff".
The Associated Press news agency says Pentagon records show that Mr Davis is a former Special Forces soldier who left the army in 2003 after 10 years of service.
BBC correspondents say the case is threatening to derail relations between the US and Pakistan, a crucial ally in the fight against militants.
Islamabad is under tremendous pressure at home, with demands that Mr Davis must stand trial in Pakistan and not be handed over to the US government.
Earlier this month, the Lahore High Court barred officials from freeing Mr Davis and ordered them to place his name on the "exit control list" to stop him leaving Pakistan.
Last weekend tensions rose further when the widow of one of the men shot dead by Mr Davis killed herself by taking poison.
In her dying statement, she said she feared the American would be released without trial, police and doctors said.

Tiger Woods storms up Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard

Tiger Woods is in the hunt for his first title in 14 months after shooting a six-under-par 66 in the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday.
The former world number one shot a bogey-free round to move to seven under, with South African Thomas Aiken the early clubhouse leader on 10 under.
Woods was tied second with Michael Hoey and Anders Hansen with overnight leader Rory McIlroy yet to finish his round.
World number one Lee Westwood shot a 70 and was five shots off the lead.
Martin Kaymer, the world number two, was a shot behind Westwood on four under after his round of 71.
Resuming on one under par following his closing eagle yesterday, Woods birdied the 12th, 13th and 18th to reach the turn in a three-under 34.
The American added yet another birdie on the second despite driving into the rough and continued his charge with a 25-footer on the short fourth.
And a wondrous approach to two feet at the 485-yard par-four sixth brought him his sixth birdie of the day.
After five holes of his first round yesterday he was two over and tied for 96th.
"I played myself right back into the tournament. I felt I hit the ball a lot better and the greens were absolutely perfect," said Woods.
"It was steady. I didn't make as many mistakes as yesterday and I felt it was important to post a number."
Westwood, who missed the cut last week, is still searching for his sparkling best, with the Englishman hitting four birdies and two bogeys.
"I'm a bit disappointed with the way I've hit it the first two days," he commented. "You have chances out there - you've just got to be on your game."
Aiken, who started on the 10th, birdied his first hole of the round and was to add a further five with his only blemish a bogey on the par four 16th.

Beyonce to headline Glastonbury

Singer Beyonce Knowles will be one of the headline acts at Glastonbury this year, her record company has announced.
The US pop star will perform on the Pyramid Stage on the last day of the event in Pilton in Somerset, Columbia Records revealed in a statement.
"I'm pumped just thinking about that huge audience and soaking up their energy," the 29-year-old star said.
Organisers of the festival, which runs from 22 to 26 June, have yet to officially announce 2011's line-up.
Tickets for this year's event went on sale in October and sold out in around four hours.
"This really is the biggest festival in the world and I cannot wait to perform there," said Knowles.
"Everyone who attends is really appreciative of music and is in such a good mood that entire weekend."
Last year's line-up included Stevie Wonder, Kylie Minogue and Gorillaz, who stepped in when U2 were forced to pull out.