Nepal begins peace process

Nepal’s new prime minister conferred with top political leaders today to decide on a cabinet that will have the key task of negotiating peace with the country’s communist rebels, party officials said.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala met at his house with leaders of the seven main political parties who spearheaded weeks of protests that forced the king last week to relinquish direct control over the government and hand power back to Nepal’s politicians.