More than 10,000 supporters of Nepal's major opposition parties marched through the streets of Kathmandu yesterday demanding Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's resignation.

The opposition parties have been demanding Koirala's resignation since one of his Cabinet members was named in a bribery scandal involving lease of an aircraft for the stale-owned Royal Nepal Airlines. Tarini Dutta Chataut, the civil avialion minister, resigned from his job in January.

Supporters of ihe main opposition United Marxist Leninist Communist Darty of Nepal. National Democratic Darty, Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Parly, United People's Front and National People's Front demonstrated through the main streets of the capital, blocking traffic for hours.

Since the winter session of Parliament was convened in the first week of February, the opposition has blocked business in the legislature, pressing its demands for ihe prime minister's resignation.

Koirala leaves for France Monday on an official visit.

He met opposition leaders on Friday in an attempt io break the deadlock, but no agreement was reached.

"We told the opposition parties that seeking the prime minister's resignation was a political issue and they should not block the Darliament making such demands," Defence Minister Mahesh Acharya told reporters after the failed meeting.

Acharya said the government suggested that the opposition follow parliamentary procedure, such as filing a no-confidence motion.

"It is not only the opposition parties, but members of his own party want the prime minister out of office," said Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the United Marxist Leninist Darty. He referred to an attempt by rebels in Koirala's party who tried to force him to step down, accusing him of incompetence. Koirala has been prime minister for most of the 10 years since democracy was introduced in Nepal undera constitutional monarch.