August 03, 2007	Friday	Rajab 18, 1428

KATHMANDU, Aug 2: A Maoist minister in Nepal's coalition government resigned on Thursday, citing a lack of cooperation from his partners. Forestry minister Matrika Yadav also accused the government of ignoring the demands of minorities in Nepal. “The government has ignored the demands of Madheshi people and other minority groups and has failed to stop anarchy and criminal activities in the Terai,” the minister said in a statement.

Residents of the southern region, home to around half the country's 27 million people, complain they have been neglected by successive governments. Nepal's former rebel Maoists signed a landmark peace deal last November ending their “people's war,” which had killed more than 13,000 people. Since then, they have been given 83 seats in a 330-seat interim parliament as well as five ministerial portfolios.

The Maoists launched their war in 1996 to topple the monarchy and establish a communist republic, but now say they are prepared to abide by the rules of mainstream politics. They remain on a US list of terrorist organisations, and continue to face allegations of mafia-like abductions, extortion and beatings.—AFP