KATHMANDU, March 16 - Top leaders of the eight parties on Friday met at Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's Baluwatar residence to discuss the soon-to-be formed interim government.

Leaders have been discussing the structure, draft of the mode of operation of the interim administration, as well as distribution of ministerial portfolios among the political parties since the morning.

Emerging from the meeting, Chairman of the Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party (NWPP) said the meeting had discussed two proposals related to the selection of the Prime Minister and formation of the council of ministers.

Likewise, today's meeting will also decide whether to allow the elected Prime Minister expand the council of ministers or let the meeting itself decide on the structure of the council in one go.

Meanwhile, Maoist chairman Prachanda has also already exited the talks venue to attend a programme of one of the Maoists' sister organisation – Newa Mukti Morcha.

According to sources, another meeting of the top brass of the eight parties is expected to reach and accord on the code of conduct of interim government administration prepared by today's meeting.

Sources have claimed that if a general consensus is reached by today itself, a formal announcement of formation of an interim government could take place later today or by tomorrow.

Prior to the deliberations today, key leaders of the four large parties -- the Nepali Congress (NC), NC-D, CPM-UML and CPN-M – had held separate internal discussions this morning regarding their participation in the interim administration and their representatives to the same.

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML standing committee has decided that the modus operandi of the interim government, common minimum programme, and code of conduct as prepared by the four-party taskforce must be ratified before anything else.

According to UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari, the standing committee had also urged the eight parties to announce formation of interim administration today itself by deciding on the position of the parties in the interim government.

Prior to the eight-party meeting, both Maoist top brass as well as Prime Minister and NC President Girija Prasad Koirala held consultations with their respective central committee members regarding the interim government.

The CPN-M has already named Krishna Bahadur Mahara to head the party in the interim administration as well.

According to leader Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, the NC-D had also held deliberations to decide its representatives in the interim government.( ekantipur.com)