Series of blasts in Nepal after rebels end ceasefire

KATHMANDU, Tuesday (AFP,Reuters) A series of bombs went off at three different places in Nepal. hours after Maoist rebels ended a four-month unilateral ceasefire, local media said. There were no reports of any casualties.

Police and government officials could not immediately be reached to confirm reports of the blasts in the three locations west and southwest of the capital Kathmandu.

"Powerful explosions rocked Bhairahawa, Pokhara and Butwal Monday evening, however," private news website Kantipur online said.

"Reports from Butwal said Maoists exploded a bomb at the District Survey Office in Butwal Municipality Monday evening," the website said.

"A powerful bomb went off at Prithvi Chowk, at around 7:30 pm this evening," a local resident told AFP Monday evening by telephone.

Pokhara is 225 kilometres (140 miles) west of the capital.

Detailed information on the blasts was still not available.

"The Maoists asked the employees to leave the building before exploding the bomb," the website said.

"A powerful bomb went off at the District Education Office in Bhairahawa Monday evening," private television channel Nepal One reported.

Bhairahawa is about 295 kilometres (185 miles) southwest of Kathmandu.

Nepal's Maoist rebels on Monday officially ended a four-month unilateral truce despite pleas from political parties and the United Nations, saying army attacks had forced them back on the offensive.

"The four-month ceasefire which we extended has come to an end," rebel leader Prachanda, or the Fierce One, said in a statement.

"We want to make it clear our future actions will be targeted against the autocratic regime. We are compelled to go on the offensive not only for the sake of peace and democracy but for the sake of self-defence."

"The royal army is surrounding our people's liberation army, which is in defensive positions, to carry out ground as well as air attacks on us," the rebels said in a statement.

"Therefore, we are compelled to go on the offensive not only for the sake of peace and democracy but for the sake of self-defence," Prachanda,

The United States said it was concerned over the truce's end.

"The U.S. thinks that this is very unhelpful. We are deeply concerned," a U.S. embassy spokeswoman in Kathmandu said.

Neighbour India, which has been prodding the king to restore democracy, termed the Maoist decision as "unfortunate".

"We have consistently called upon the Maoists to abandon the path of violence and terror... and work for a political settlement that contributes to the political stability and economic prosperity of Nepal," the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Prachanda said the rebels' new offensive would be directed at the royal regime.

He said the Maoists would respect a recent pact with political parties in which they agreed to rejoin the main political process.