Nepal: Full-cabinet only after Prachanda returns from China

government's full fledged cabinet is likely to be completed only after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'returns from his visit to China.

Prachanda would leave for China on Saturday where he will attend the concluding ceremony of Beijing Olympics. Itwill be his first foreign tour as Prime Minister.

"The new government will take a complete shape only after Prachanda returns from his visit to China," senior leader of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (C.P.N.-M) MohanVaidya Kiran said.

Kiran, however, said a small cabinet may be formed onSaturday to carry out day-to-day administration.

The formation of Maoist-led government was delayed even after Prachanda was elected the Prime Minister due to differences over the issues of common minimum programme andpower sharing among the major coalition partners.

Now agreement has been reached regarding most of the key portfolios except the Water Resources Ministry, said Madhesi People's Rights Forum (M.P.R.F.) central member B PYadav.

The three major parties have agreed that the Maoists will get nine ministries including Defence and Finance, the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist)(C.P.N.-U.M.L.) will get Home and five others and M.P.R.F.

will get four including Communication.

The leaders of major parties have also agreed to split at least two ministries to increase the number of ministries as Prachanda is constantly facing pressure from political parties which seek more berths in the cabinet, party sourcessaid.

However, agreement could not be reached over power sharing till Tuesday as C.P.N.-U.M.L. and the M.P.R.F. both have claimed the Ministry of Water Resources, a source closeto the M.P.R.F. said.