(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai promised on Wednesday (January 30) to hold delayed elections in May, raising hopes for an end to a political stalemate that has crippled the Himalayan republic still emerging from a decade-long civil war.<br/> <br />A former rebel leader, Bhattarai announced the polls to a rally of 10,000 cheering, flag-waving supporters in the heart of the Nepali capital.<br/> <br />It was a show of strength after weeks of violent street protests by opposition parties demanding the prime minister's resignation.<br/> <br />Nepal's parliament was dissolved in May, having failed to reach a consensus on drafting a new constitution seen as central to long-term stability.<br/> <br />Since then, opposition parties have pressured Bhattarai to quit to pave the way for the formation of a national unity government to oversee elections.<br/> <br />The polls had initially been set for last November, but they were deferred as opposition parties refused to cooperate, saying the dates, finalised without consulting them, were impractical.
