Kathmandu, June 16:

The alliance of 27 parties, including Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, Saturday decided to launch a protest programme across the country and demanded the resignation of the prime minister.

The opposition alliance held a meeting at UML central office at Balkhu and decided to start demonstrations, torch rallies and other programmes against the government from June 19 to July 9.

They also decided to protest against the prime minister at the Tribhuvan International Airport on his way to Brazil where he is scheduled to take part in the Rio summit.

They decided to show black flags to the prime minister at the Tribhuvan International Airport on June 18.

The meeting also decided that the resignation of the prime minister was the pre-condition to start a dialogue with the Maoists for consensus politics.

The meeting also formed a three-member protest committee comprising NC general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula, UML general secretary Ishwor Pokharel and Rastriya Prajatantra Party general secretary Dipak Bohara.

After the meeting, UML leader Bhim Rawal said that the 27 parties agreed to show black flags to the prime minister at TIA on June 18.

NC leader Arjun Narsing KC said that the caretaker prime minister had no right to participate in the Rio summit.

He said that the Maoists were trying to capture the power and 27 parties were launching the protest programme against the government.