Nepal parties reach charter deal  

Nepal's rival political parties have struck a historic agreement to end years of deadlock on a new constitution that will divide the country into eight provinces, spurred by a devastating earthquake, AFP reports from Kathmandu.  
The deal reached late Monday comes weeks after an earthquake that killed thousands and piled pressure on politicians to end a stalemate that has paralysed the country.
Nepal's lawmakers began work on a new national constitution in 2008 following a decade-long Maoist insurgency that left an estimated 16,000 people dead and brought down the monarchy. But the political parties were unable to reach agreement and the resulting uncertainty left Nepal -- one of the world's poorest countries -- in a state of political limbo.
Information Minister Minendra Rijal said the April 25 disaster, which killed more than 8,700 people and destroyed nearly half a million houses, had motivated rival parties to work together.
"There is a will to get this done," said Rijal, calling the agreement a "major breakthrough".
The opposition Maoist party had pressed for greater devolution of powers, and the agreement to divide Nepal into eight provinces paves the way for a new federal structure.
However, it leaves the crucial issue of the provincial borders unresolved -- an omission which critics said would create future problems.
The Maoists had been pushing for new provinces to be created along lines that could favour historically marginalised communities, but other parties said this would be divisive and a threat to national unity.
"This is an incomplete deal, it's an agreement which postpones the crucial question entirely," said Prashant Jha, a Nepali journalist and author.

Nepal parties reach charter deal

Nepals rival political parties have struck a historic agreement to end years of deadlock on a new constitution that will divide the country into eight provinces, spurred by a devastating earthquake, AFP reports from Kathmandu. The deal reached late Monday comes weeks after an earthquake that killed thousands and piled pressure on politicians to end a stalemate that has paralysed the country. Nepals lawmakers began work on a new national constitution in 2008 following a decade-long Maoist insurgency that left an estimated 16,000 people dead and brought down the monarchy. But the political parties were unable to reach agreement and the resulting uncertainty left Nepal -- one of the worlds poorest countries -- in a state of political limbo. Information Minister Minendra Rijal said the April 25 disaster, which killed more than 8,700 people and destroyed nearly half a million houses, had motivated rival parties to work together. There is a will to get this done, said Rijal, calling the agreement a major breakthrough. The opposition Maoist party had pressed for greater devolution of powers, and the agreement to divide Nepal into eight provinces paves the way for a new federal structure. However, it leaves the crucial issue of the provincial borders unresolved -- an omission which critics said would create future problems. The Maoists had been pushing for new provinces to be created along lines that could favour historically marginalised communities, but other parties said this would be divisive and a threat to national unity. This is an incomplete deal, its an agreement which postpones the crucial question entirely, said Prashant Jha, a Nepali journalist and author.