Deputy PM quits as Nepal crisis deepens

Soldiers defuse a bomb in Kathmandu but explosive politics may be beyond them

KATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) -- Nepal's deputy prime minister has resigned over differences with the prime minister on how to contain an upsurge in Maoist violence in the Himalayan kingdom. The resignation of Ram Chandra Poudel followed a string of deadly attacks on police posts by Maoist rebels in which more than 50 people, including 40 police officers and nine rebels, were killed last week.

Poudel accused Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala of failing to tackle the increased Maoist violence after last month's massacre in the royal palace.

Speaking to the country's parliament, Paudel said the government needs a more focused strategy in dealing with the violent insurgency as well as more authority and more weaponry.

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"I have resigned because the prime minister could not give a way out of the problem being faced by the country," Paudel said.

"I tried to convince the prime minister so many times, but I could not convince him".

Observers believe that Paudel had been hinting to the prime minister that he should consider resigning.

Members of the ruling Nepali Congress Party and opposition groups have been urging the resignation of the prime minister.

"The Maoist rebellion can't be resolved by only the police and the army. There has to be a political dialogue," Paudel said.

Koirala has the option of rejecting the resignation or accepting it and appointing a replacement.

The resignation followed deadly attacks on police posts by Maoist rebels in which over 50 people, including 40 policemen and nine rebels, were killed last week.

Another 70 police officers have been missing since a rebel attack on a security post in west Nepal on Thursday.

The Maoists, ideologically close to Peru's Shining Path guerrillas, are fighting to topple the constitutional monarchy. About 1,750 people have been killed in the violence since 1996.

Reuters contributed to this report.