Nepal PM vows to stay despite mounting pressure to step down

Nepals embattled Prime Minister on Monday refused to quit amid mounting pressure on the government to show flexibility as the withdrawal of the Maoists-led strike has paved the way to rescue the stalled peace process. Madhav Kumar Nepal would stay in power until the Maoists fulfilled conditions laid out in peace negotiations,including an agreement on integration of the Maoist combatants, said Raghuji Panta,a top advisor to the Prime Minister. Nepal on Monday vowed to protect press freedom amid attacks on mediapersons by Maoist cadres. The government will leave no stone unturned to respect press freedom, the Prime Minister told a delegation of journalists on Monday.