NEPALESE PRIME MINISTER GIRIJA PRASAD KOIRALA SUNDAY CALLED ON THE MAOIST INSURGENTS TO GIVE UP VIOLENCE AND JOIN THE POLITICAL MAINSTREAM. HE ALSO ASKED THEM TO COME FORWARD FOR TALKS, DPA REPORTED. KOIRALA, 84, ADDRESSING THE NEPALESE PARLIAMENT THAT CONVENED SUNDAY AFTERNOON, REITERATED HIS COMMITMENT TO CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS TO RESTORE PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE COUNTRY. KOIRALA WHO WAS SWORN IN AS PRIME MINISTER BY KING GYANENDRA SUNDAY MORNING WENT TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE TO TAKE CHARGE AND DROVE DIRECTLY FROM THERE TO THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING. IN HIS ADDRESS, FOUR-TIME PRIME MINISTER KOIRALA ASKED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR HELP TO REBUILD THE COUNTRY THAT HAS SUFFERED 10 YEARS FROM A MAOIST INSURGENCY. SOME INTERNATIONAL DONORS ALSO STOPPED AID AFTER KING GYANENDRA TOOK OVER ABSOLUTE POWER IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR. KOIRALA, WHO WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE FIRST MEETING OF THE RESTORED PARLIAMENT FRIDAY DUE TO ILL HEALTH, ALSO SAID THAT NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO BREAK THE UNITY OF THE SEVEN-PARTY ALLIANCE (SPA). KOIRALA ALSO REITERATED HIS COMMITMENT TO THE SPA'S ROAD MAP FOR PEACE AS WELL AS HIS COMMITMENT TO THE 12-POINT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SPA AND THE MAOISTS.
