Nepal, a moderate communist, vowed to prepare a post-republic constitution by May 2010 as envisaged in the peace deal.

But, the prime minister said, the future of the Maoist fighters must be settled before the new constitution was written.

“Otherwise, it will hamper the work in the constituent assembly”, he said of the body dominated by the Maoists and tasked to prepare the new constitution.

The future of former Maoist fighters is a tricky issue and some senior Maoists want them to join the army.

But Nepal said only up to 5,000 combatants who fulfil the criteria could be absorbed in the army. The rest will have to be given alternative jobs, he said.

The government will request the United Nations to extend its peace monitoring mission by six months after its mandate expires next month, he said, adding the rehabilitation of the combatants will be over by the end of the year. In the past, such deadlines had not been met.

A loose alliance of 22 political parties in the parliament elected Nepal the premier last month. But he is still struggling to cobble together a full cabinet, due to wrangling over positions among his allies.

“Keeping together a coalition with so many political parties with different philosophies and stands is very difficult,” said Nepal, the country's 18th prime minister since 1990"