Dahal says sorry to Nepal

KATHMANDU, July 28 - Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has "apologized" to CPN-UML outgoing General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal for not supporting the latter for the post of president.In a meeting on Sunday morning at Nepal's residence in Koteswor, Dahal also proposed that the Maoist-UML alliance be revived for the ... ...of the next government. Nepal, however, reportedly rebuffed Dahal and said the Maoists have lost all basis for trust."He (Dahal) said he was sorry for his party's mistake in not supporting the UML candidate for president. But I made it clear that alliance with the Maoists is not possible," Nepal told the Post.During the meeting, Nepal told Dahal that there was no alternative to a national government of political consensus."I told him to initiate consultations with the Nepali Congress, Forum (MPRF) and others to form a national government," Nepal said.UML central leader Raghu Pant said a majority of UML leaders are strongly against forging any kind of alliance with the Maoists. "The Maoists have left no reason for trusting them," he said.He said the CPN (Maoist), as the largest political party, must be given a chance to lead the next government. "But it (Maoist party) should realize that other parties have a majority to form the government if it doesn't withdraw its conditions immediately," he said. "We can never accept the Maoist conditions for allowing it to form the government.Arguing that the Maoists can't claim the major portfolios in the government once their chairman becomes prime minister, he said, "The national government should reflect the balance of power among all major political parties.Meanwhile, the CPN (Maoist) has postponed its meeting with the 24 political parties till Monday.

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