KATHMANDU : Nepal's ailing prime minister will miss the first policy announcement by the recently reinstated parliament because of ill health, the legislative speaker said.

"According to the doctors involved in prime minister's medical treatment, he (the PM) will not be able to be present at today's sitting of the house," said Subash Nemwang, the speaker of the house of representatives.

In place of the 85-year old Girija Prasad Koirala, Deputy Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli will present government programmes for the next 12 months and recap the last four years.

Parliament was suspended in 2002 by King Gyanendra who then sacked the cabinet in February 2005 and seized absolute power. It was reinstated in April following weeks of bloody protests against his rule led by political parties and Maoist rebels.

Since his appointment, Koirala has been dogged by ill health.

He recently returned from nine days in Bangkok receiving laser prostate treatment and is currently recovering from a bout of pneumonia.

In past years, the king would present the political programme, but he was removed from any political rule by parliament in June.

The policy announcement is expected to detail efforts by the government and rebels to share power after the drafting of an interim constitution.

In addition, the government has agreed to a key Maoist demand for the election of a body that will rewrite Nepal's constitution.

Since the rebels began their "people's war" in 1996, at least 12,500 people have been killed.

- AFP