February 22, 2002	Friday	Zilhaj 9, 1422

KATHMANDU, Feb 21: In what appears to be a providential feat, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday succeeded in obtaining Opposition support to his proposal to extend the emergency, proclaimed on Nov 26, by another three months.

Today’s endorsement facilitates the Royal Nepal Army to carry on its present campaign against Maoist insurrection till May.

Deuba’s formal motion garnered the support of 194 members of the 205-strong House of Representatives.

The Constitution stipulates that such a proposition needs to be approved by a two-thirds majority.

Today’s votes include 69 cast by the members of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), a faction of moderate Communists presently leading the Opposition.

The governing Nepali Congress, known for its democratic credentials, had 110 members to brace the resolution.