Nepal parties meet but fail to reach agreement

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Officials say leaders of Nepal’s two largest parties have met but failed to reach agreement on who should lead the next government.

Leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and Nepali Congress met for the first time Thursday since Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal resigned over the weekend, reviving the country’s political crisis.

Officials say the parties remained far apart in the talks, with both insisting they should lead a new coalition government.

The Maoists say they should head the government because they have the most seats in the national assembly and are a key part of the country’s peace process.

Nepali Congress says it is their turn to lead the government after not heading the previous coalitions.