"We're not looking for any excuses to postpone"

Prime Minister Suryabahadur Thapa, who has held the position four times before, is head of the caretaker government appointed by King Gyanendra to run Nepal while parliament is suspended. TIME's Alex Perry met him at his offices in central Kathmandu.

TIME: How is the military campaign going?
Thapa: It's moving on satisfactorily. Clearly we have the upper hand. We have heard through agencies that have sent out feelers that the Maoists are feeling the heat. But the ultimate aim of the army engagement is to force the Maoists to come to the negotiating table....