Interim statute, legislature on Jan 15, 2007: KATHMANDU, Jan 8 - The top leaders of the ruling seven-party alliance and the CPN-Maoist on Monday agreed to promulgate the interim statute and form the interim legislature on January 15. The decision was reached during a meeting of the top leaders of the eight parties at the Prime Minister's Residence at Baluwatar this morning. Talking to eKantipur, NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC, who was present in the meeting, said that the top brass of the eight parties agreed to promulgate the interim statute on January 15 and get it endorsed by the interim legislature to be formed on the same day. The reinstated House of Representatives, after passing the Interim Statute, will be dissolved on Jan 15, KC informed. The interim statute for now would be promulgated as it is and the technical and linguistic errors, if any, would be corrected and amended by the interim legislature, informed KC. KC also said that all the leaders agreed to accommodate the suggestions forwarded by the Supreme Court (SC) justices regarding amendments to the interim statute, finalised and signed by the SPA and Maoists on December 16, "to the extent necessary." A meeting of the SC justices Sunday had unanimously decided to ask the political parties to amend the judicial provisions in the interim constitution after they found some of the provisions "insufficient for ensuring judicial independence." A meeting of the SC's Full Court, which is the apex-policy making body of the judiciary, hammered out a 13-point suggestion to amend the judicial provisions in the interim constitution. The suggestions relate to the appointment of the chief justice, impeachment, formation of the Constitutional Council, Judicial Council, the oath taking process, annual report publication, among others. The eight parties had signed the interim statute on Dec 16 and had reached an agreement to promulgate it within two weeks of signing to give a head start to the preparation of the elections to the constituent assembly. However, with differences surfacing among the parties, the promulgation had been delayed. The eight-party leaders also agreed to develop better co-ordination among their cadres so as to create conducive environment for holding the constituent assembly elections in a free and fair manner. The meeting also decided to send the secretaries to all the VDCs and help collect the voters' list from across the country. Earlier, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist Chairman Prachanda yesterday had decided to hold an all-party meeting, including the Maoists this morning for the purpose. Maoist Chairman Prachanda during his meeting with PM Koirala also discussed the additional facilities including ration to the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA) fighters. Earlier this week, Maoist Chairman Prachanda in a programme in Dolakha had warned of street protests if the interim statute was not issued by the agreed date. He claimed that the government had agreed to issue the interim constitution by January 14. http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=96902