Nepal PM resigns
Updated
![It's believed Mr Koirala, the chief architect of a 2006 peace deal, is negotiating with the Maoists for the presidency. [Reuters]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/nepal_koirala_rtr_160207.jpg "It's believed Mr Koirala, the chief architect of a 2006 peace deal, is negotiating with the Maoists for the presidency. [Reuters]")
It's believed Mr Koirala, the chief architect of a 2006 peace deal, is negotiating with the Maoists for the presidency. [Reuters]
Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has resigned, clearing the way for former Maoist rebels to form a new government.
His move comes amid mounting criticisms from the Maoists that the veteran politician was unwilling to hand power to them even though his party lost the April elections.
Mr Koirala became prime minister in April 2006 after weeks of street protests forced then King Gyanendra to end his brief absolute rule and hand power to political parties.
It's believed Mr Koirala, the chief architect of a 2006 peace deal that brought the Maoists from the jungles to the corridors of power, is negotiating with the Maoist for the presidency.
But the Maoists have refused any such role for Mr Koirala.
