Nepal's parties want judge to be interim PM

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Nepal's major political parties have agreed to form an interim government under the Supreme court chief justice and then hold fresh elections in June.

Narayan Kaji Shrestha of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal Maoist says the agreement was reached in a meeting late Monday. Another meeting at which the agreement is expected to be formally signed is scheduled for Tuesday.

Nepal has been without a fully functioning government and parliament since last May. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has been running a caretaker government.

The government has been unable to hold elections, with opposition parties wanting Bhattarai's removal before a vote is held. The parties proposed the chief justice to head the interim government that would conduct the elections.