US urges patience as Nepal elections constituent assembly

The United States on Monday called for "patience" and "non-violence" as the Nepalese go to polls Tuesday to elect a new Constituent Assembly to write an overdue constitution for the republic. "Holding successful elections would help cement the peace process that was started in 2006," State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said in a statement. "Over the next days and weeks, as complete results of these polls become known, the United States urges patience, non-violence and respect for a democratic process. " More than 100 parties are jostling for 601 seats in the Constituent Assembly, tasked with drafting a new constitution for the country of 27 million, which is also considered as part of the peace process that saw a 10-year insurgency led by the Maoists come to an end in 2006. The last assembly elected in 2008 failed to deliver one due to infighting, and it collapsed in May 2012. Violence once surged in Nepal in the run-up to the fresh polls. "We look forward to the formation of an assembly that will enact a constitution and pass legislation that will uphold human rights and democratic processes and lead to economic prosperity," Psaki said.