A meeting of the three largest political parties in the Constituent Assembly-the Unified CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML)-called to discuss the solution on the ongoing row over whether or not to sack Chief of Army Staff Rookmangad Katawal has begun in Singha Darbar Wednesday morning.

The meeting was called to end the ongoing stalemate by discussing options acceptable to all parties. Top leaders of all three parties are discussing options including a ‘middle-path’ one proposed by the UML.

The option proposes to seek resignation of defense minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, incumbent army chief Katawal and second-in-command Lt General Kul Bahadur Khadka and appoint the third-in-command Chhatra Mansingh Gurung as the new CoAS.

The Maoists have not agreed to remove Thapa from the post of defense minister. The UML has said it would propose other options too, to end the stalemate.

The Maoists are preparing to sack the CoAS with unilateral decision on Wednesday even if a consensus is not reached among the parties, it is learnt. nepalnews.com Apr 29 09