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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Maoists demand Nepal presidency | Maoists demand Nepal presidency |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The leader of Nepal's former Maoist rebels says he expects to be the first president of the country after its monarchy is abolished. | The leader of Nepal's former Maoist rebels says he expects to be the first president of the country after its monarchy is abolished. |
| Prachanda told the BBC that King Gyanendra would probably be allowed to stay in Nepal after losing his title. | Prachanda told the BBC that King Gyanendra would probably be allowed to stay in Nepal after losing his title. |
| The ruling coalition says the monarchy will be abolished later this year. | The ruling coalition says the monarchy will be abolished later this year. |
| The Maoists signed a landmark peace deal with the government last November, declaring an end to their insurgency. | The Maoists signed a landmark peace deal with the government last November, declaring an end to their insurgency. |
| During the interview, Prachanda also refused to rule out the possibility the Maoists might take up arms again. | During the interview, Prachanda also refused to rule out the possibility the Maoists might take up arms again. |
| This April, Nepalis are due to elect an assembly to write a new constitution. | This April, Nepalis are due to elect an assembly to write a new constitution. |
| Prachanda said his travels round the country had convinced him that his Maoist party would come top. | Prachanda said his travels round the country had convinced him that his Maoist party would come top. |
| Pardon | Pardon |
| He also said that, as its leader, he would in due course become president of a new Nepalese republic. | He also said that, as its leader, he would in due course become president of a new Nepalese republic. |
| Prachanda said King Gyanendra's fate would depend on his actions. | Prachanda said King Gyanendra's fate would depend on his actions. |
| "If he follows the decision of the masses of peoples according to the constitution, if he abides by the constitution, then our people will pardon him to stay here as a common citizen. There is not a problem," he said. | |
| The Maoists' actions since coming into parliament and the cabinet in the past 13 months do not seem to have won them many friends. | The Maoists' actions since coming into parliament and the cabinet in the past 13 months do not seem to have won them many friends. |
| In particular their huge youth league, the successor to their war-time militia, is regularly accused of extortion and thuggery. | In particular their huge youth league, the successor to their war-time militia, is regularly accused of extortion and thuggery. |
| But Prachanda said accounts of such behaviour were exaggerated. | But Prachanda said accounts of such behaviour were exaggerated. |
| He said his party would accept the election result even if it did badly. | He said his party would accept the election result even if it did badly. |
| But he said it was possible the Maoists might take up arms again if any section of society, such as the army, tried "to conspire against the peace process." | But he said it was possible the Maoists might take up arms again if any section of society, such as the army, tried "to conspire against the peace process." |
| He added, however, that they wouldn't wage war from the countryside; rather, violence might arise in the streets of cities. | He added, however, that they wouldn't wage war from the countryside; rather, violence might arise in the streets of cities. |