Nepalese political parties agree election to be held by early April

Twice-postponed elections for a Constituent Assembly that will decide Nepal's political future will take place by early April, political leaders agreed Saturday.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, leaders of all six ruling parties and a Maoist faction - former rebels who left the government in September - agreed to the deadline at a meeting at the prime minister's house in the capital Katmandu, said Prakash Sharan Mahat of Koirala's Nepali Congress party, who participated in the meeting.

Polling will take place before April 12, the end of the Nepali calendar year, Mahat said, adding that the leaders would meet again Sunday to decide other issues, including the election procedure.

An election to choose members of the Constituent Assembly - which would rewrite the constitution and decide the future political system for Nepal - was first scheduled for June 20, but was postponed because the government failed to enact sufficient election laws.

A second poll set for November 22 was pushed back after the Maoists withdrew from the government.

Katmandu, Sundau, AP