The United States on Thursday welcomed an announcement by Nepal's interim government that the country's first national elections since the abolition of the 239-year-old monarchy will be held on November 19.
"Since the dissolution of the previous Constituent Assembly more than a year ago, we have encouraged the Government of Nepal to take this important step," US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told a news briefing in Washington on Thursday.
"We congratulate the people of Nepal as they prepare for free, fair, and inclusive elections, which are the hallmark of every democracy," she said, adding that United States remains committed to supporting Nepal's election preparations, including through voter registration and education and the organization of observer missions.
Nepal had abolished its monarchy after a peace accord signed in 2006 ended the decade-long armed conflict between the government and the Maoist Opposition. It is estimated that at least 13,000 people were killed and 1,300 went missing during the 1996-2006 conflict.
Nepal's fragile peace process began after the Maoists ended their armed revolt and entered mainstream politics. The 491-member Constituent Assembly that emerges from the November elections will have the responsibility of drafting a new constitution for Nepal.
The previous Constituent Assembly, which was dissolved in May 2012, had failed to reach an agreement on the new Constitution due to differences between the country's main political parties. That Assembly was dissolved in May 2012.
Subsequently, Nepal's chief justice Khil Raj Regmi was sworn in by the country's President in March 2013 as head of an interim government mandated to hold elections for a new Constituent Assembly.
His appointment was the result of a package deal between four political parties — Nepali Congress, United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist and United Democratic Madhesi Front. But several parties, including the breakaway Communist Party of Nepal - Maoist, remain opposed to the move.
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