Nepal's new prime minister says the peace process that ended a deadly civil war in the Himalayan nation has stalled after Maoists quit the government in May. The Maoists are hindering the process from moving forward.

Madhav Kumar Nepal replaced Maoist prime minister Prachanda after the former rebel leader quit last month over his inability to sack a controversial army chief.

Prachanda had accused the army chief of not taking orders from the civilian government.

The Maoists have since regularly obstructed parliament sittings, organized general strikes and burned the new leader's effigy in protests to press for the removal of the army chief.

[Madhav Kumar Nepal, Prime Minister of Nepal]:
"They want to show that they are honest to peace, but the behavior of this is not like as they claim, so they need to transform themselves, they need to change themselves, otherwise they will get isolated not only from the national community but also from the international community."

Nepal was sitting under the photographs of people killed three years ago during protests against the now deposed monarchy.

[Madhav Kumar Nepal, Prime Minister of Nepal]:
"Anarchist thinking and anarchist behavior is threatening the peace here, creating trouble everywhere."

Analysts say the prime minister's comments highlight fears that growinglawlessness is taking hold in Nepal.

The economy is being threatened as strikes hit businesses and the country’s attempts to embrace democracy and a new constitution are being undermined.

The prime ministed has vowed to prepare a post-republic constitution by May 2010 as envisaged in the peace deal.

But he says the future of the Maoist fighters must be settled before the new constitution is written.