Nepal's embattled Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has received support from a large majority of his cabinet colleagues in the country's latest political crisis.

Party leader GP Koirala challenged Mr Deuba

Thirty-three members of the 39-strong cabinet issued a joint statement supporting Mr Dueba a day after the President of the ruling party, former Prime Minister GP Koirala, gave them a three-day deadline to quit.

Three members of the cabinet, including the influential Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat, had already resigned on Thursday - but there are no indications that others are likely to follow suit.

The crisis erupted when Mr Deuba asked the King to dissolve parliament when it became clear that the government would not have a majority to extend the current state of emergency being used in the campaign against Maoist rebels.

The ruling Nepali Congress party subsequently declared that it had suspended Mr Deuba from membership.

Factional fighting

In their statement, the ministers not only expressed support for Mr Deuba, but also asked Mr Koirala to withdraw all actions against the prime minister and avert a split in the party.

There is deepening gloom among politically active Nepalis

Mr Koirala, a veteran politician who has served several terms as prime minister, was forced out of office in July 2001 amid criticism of his failure to contain Maoist violence, handing over the premiership to Mr Deuba but retaining the party presidency.

Correspondents say the relationship between the two men has always been strained and the dissolution of the parliament has brought the party's inner conflicts out in the open.

Outside support

Mr Deuba believes the government needs the sweeping powers granted by the emergency to fight Maoist rebels.

Mr Deuba is working under pressure

Some members of the ruling party and opposition groups think existing powers are enough.

Nepal is also seeking help from abroad in its campaign against the rebels,

The US pledged aid worth $20m and support has also been promised by the UK.

The Chief of the British General Staff, General Sir Michael Boyce, arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day visit on Friday to assess how best to help the Nepalese army.

Observers say that after several months of lacklustre performance, Nepal's security forces are in a relatively advantageous position against the rebels. who are want to replace Nepal's constitutional monarchy with a communist republic.