Kathmandu: Nepal's newly appointed Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand on October 19 said that he would seek the views of all political parties before deciding when to hold legislative elections in the troubled country, which is in the grip of a bloody rebellion amid deep political uncertainty.

"I am going to hold an all-party meeting within a week to discuss the current situation in the country with party leaders, and a suitable time frame to hold the elections," said Chand.

Chand was handed the leadership mantle on October 11, a week after King Gyanendra declared former Premier Sher Bahadur Deuba "incompetent" and sacked him.

A staunch loyalist, Chand will head an interim government until a new election, the dates of which have not been announced.

"The prime objective of my government is to maintain the law and order situation through dialogue with the Maoists (rebels) and hold the elections as early as possible," Chand said on October 19.

"A task force is being constituted soon to prepare grounds for dialogue with the Maoists," he said.

Asked whether he would meet the rebels' demand for unconditional dialogue, Chand said, "I am waiting for their response and I have kept the doors open for them to come forward."

Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal said in an interview published on October 19 that talks with the Maoist rebels, who have been fighting for a Communist republic in Nepal since 1996 in an uprising that has claimed more than 5,000 lives, were necessary "to restore peace in the country".