Maoists quit govt; announce protest movement (Update) The CPN (Maoist) has decided to quit the government as eight-party leaders failed to forge consensus on its demands. Maoist ministers submitted their resignation letters to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala as soon as the meeting of top leaders of four major ruling allies ended in a deadlock. The leaders had been engaged in hectic parleys from early morning today. All four Maoist ministers – Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dev Gurung, Hisila Yami and Khadga Bishwokarma - were at Baluwatar when the top leaders' meeting was underway. They left Baluwatar at around 12:30 pm after announcing resignation. Leaders and intermediaries were engaged in bilateral and multilateral discussions since last couple of days in their attempt to convince the Maoist leaders not to announce departure from the coalition government. PM Koirala has rejected two key Maoist demands: announcement of republic before the polls and proportional representation-based election system. Meanwhile, the Maoists have announced nationwide protest movement from Tuesday. Addressing the mass meeting at the Open Air Theatre, Maoist second-in-command Dr. Baburam Bhattarai said his party had decided to quit the government as the parties failed to agree on 22 demands. "Our efforts to declare republic from the parliament has failed. Now we will declare republic from the streets. Therefore, we have decided to come in the midst of the people," said Dr. Bhattarai. He also said that the code of ethics and election schedule by the Election Commission was no longer acceptable to them. "We will struggle for the purpose of having real election not this hypocritical drama," he said. Dr. Bhattarai also warned 'foreigners' not to try to pressure or dictate Nepalis. "They should remember their own history and how they fought for their freedom from colonialism," he said. Making the schedule of protest programmes public, Dr. Bhattarai said Maoists were carrying out 'funeral procession of monarchy' throughout the country on September 18. As per their 'first phase' agitation schedule, they plan to hold door-to-door public awareness campaign between September 19 and 21. From September 22 till 29, they will intensify rallies and campaigns. And between September 29 and October 3, the Maoists have stated that they will 'expose' the corrupt people and those named as guilty in the report by Rayamajhi Commission. On September 30, the Maoists have vowed to gherao all the District Administration Offices across the country. They have also announced general strike from October 4 till 6. This strike coincides with EC's schedule whereby nominations of candidates will have to be filed on October 5. The street agitations, according to Bhattarai, will be peaceful while the People's Liberation Army will remain in cantonments. Saying that the eight-party unity is endangered, the Maoist leader however stated that the 12-point agreement had not ended yet. Maoist chairman Prachanda did not attend the mass meeting due to health problems. The Maoists had brought truckloads of party workers and school students at the mass meeting. Meanwhile, senior Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma told media that the Constituent Assembly election will not take place. Although he stopped short of saying that his party would boycott the November 22 election, he gave enough hints that the Maoists would try to foil the election plan terming it as a 'drama.' Sharma said that Maoists want to ensure real CA election by ushering in republic first. Sharma claimed that people were with his party. "Only the reactionaries and middle class people of urban areas have misunderstood us," he said. nepalnews.com mk/ia/sd Sep 18 07