Poll date raises hopes in Nepal

Nepal's announcement of November elections raised hopes for stability in the deeply divided Himalayan nation, but also concerns that the long-awaited polls could still be scuppered, analysts said yesterday.
The caretaker government set the November 19 date late on Thursday following months of political deadlock that has hampered the country's recovery after a decade-long civil war.
Nepalese politics has operated in a legislative vacuum since May 2012 when the old parliament was dissolved without producing a constitution, aimed at healing deep divisions over the conflict, amid political disagreements.
Thursday's breakthrough came after the interim government assured them their concerns would be incorporated into a new amendment on election laws, which has been forwarded to President Ram Baran Yadav for his approval.
But three opposition leaders, representing 42 smaller political groupings, late Thursday threatened to boycott the polls, saying the interim government had not consulted them before announcing the date.