KATHMANDU, Aug 14: Nepal's prime minister resigned from office on Sunday saying he was clearing the way for a new government to take power.

Press adviser Surya Thapa said late on Sunday that Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal had submitted his resignation to President Rambaran Yadav.

“The major tasks of accomplishing the peace process and writing the new constitution have not progressed as desired,” Khanai's office said in a statement. “Therefore, the prime minister stepped down with an objective to pave the way for forming a national consensus government and expedite the statute drafting and peace process.”

Khanal was elected to his post in a parliamentary vote in February but came under pressure from the opposition to step down.

The main opposition Nepali Congress party has accused him of failing to live up to his promises to move forward the peace process that ended years of fighting in the Himalayan nation.

Maoist guerillas gave up their armed revolt in 2006 to join mainstream politics. However, thousands of former Maoist fighters still live in camps and their future is yet to be determined. Khanal had promised he would resolve the issue but failed to do. —AP