Communist leader's murder hits Nepal's peace process

10 July 2010, 18:00 PM

Ians, Kathmandu

The murder of a communist leader hit Nepal's peace process with a key meeting yesterday among the three top parties, that could have paved the way for a new government, being put off. Chhabi Karki, a leader of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) in Okhaldhunga, a remote district in eastern Nepal, was stabbed to death by an unidentified gang in his home district Thursday, triggering protests by his party. 'We strongly believe the Maoists are responsible for the murder,' UML leader Yubaraj Gyawali told IANS. 'Our party decided to cancel the meeting today (yesterday) to pay last respects to Karki at a public programme in Kathmandu.' Gyawali said the killing would have indirect bearings on the negotiations going on between his party, the Maoists and the third major party, the Nepali Congress (NC), to form a new government.