Nepal's prime minister resigns in battle for control of Army

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Asia's youngest democracy was thrown into turmoil Monday, as Nepal's prime minister resigned following riots over his sacking of an Army chief.

The crisis is the worst since a peace deal was signed in 2006, ending more than a decade of civil war that pitted Maoist rebels against Nepal's centuries-old monarchy. It's also the biggest challenge yet faced by Nepal's young government, which is dominated by former rebels. Those rebels won elections last year and abolished the monarchy. But now, they say old-guard elites in the military and elsewhere are blocking further reforms.

Developments came thick and fast in the past two days, with a political tug-of-war at the highest levels. Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also called Prachanda, on Sunday fired the Army chief for failing to execute government orders to integrate Maoists into the military.

But later Sunday, President Ram Baran Yadav overturned that decision and ordered the Army chief to return to work. The prime minister then resigned Monday afternoon on national television.

Indian Express, citing agency reports, said Nepal's Maoists are accusing the president of launching a "constitutional coup" by reversing the prime minister's decision. The website quoted the prime minister:

"I have resigned from the post of prime minister from today for the protection of democracy and peace," ... Prachanda, who had taken the reins of the country eight months ago, said in a televised address to the nation.

"The move by the President is an attack on this infant democracy and the peace process," Prachanda said, accusing him of taking an "unconstitutional and undemocratic decision."

The Associated Press reported that part of the problem is that the ink still isn't dry on Nepal's revised Constitution. That's left political rules up in the air and will likely make it even harder to resolve the current crisis.

The Army is under the president's command, but since the country's constitution is being rewritten, many things are unclear – including who can fire the Army chief.

Citing analysts, the Associated Press said the fledgling government "could be on the brink of collapse." The crisis was sparked by tensions between the Army chief and Maoist government over bringing former rebels into the military – a key part of the 2006 peace deal.

The dispute between Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal – a former Maoist rebel leader – and Katawal centered on the integration of former rebels as required by a United Nations-brokered peace agreement into the ranks of the army they fought for a decade.

Since ending their rebellion in 2006, the Maoists have kept their fighters to UN-monitored camps. Dahal wanted them in the Army but Katawal resisted. The government says Katawal also ignored orders to stop recruiting soldiers.

"(He) was removed because he failed to give a satisfactory explanation on why ... orders were ignored," said Information Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

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