Kathmandu, June 30, 2010, SPA -- Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned today after 13 months in office to allow the country's political parties to form a new national government, according to dpa. The resignation came after months of bickering over the leadership of the government which plunged the nation into a political crisis. The deadlock halted the drafting of a new republican constitution and threatened to derail the peace process of nearly four years. "It would not be appropriate to allow the country to remain hostage of indecision," Nepal said. "I am resigning with immediate effect despite having majority in parliament, with the hope that it would take forward the peace process, end political deadlock and lead to the resumption of efforts to draft a new constitution." In his 25-minute address on national radio and television, Nepal also criticized the Maoists for their personal attacks against him. -- SPA 19:42 LOCAL TIME 16:42 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/797793