UN and US "deeply concerned" at end of ceasefire in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Wednesday (AFP) The United Nations said Tuesday it was "deeply concerned" that Maoist rebels in Nepal have ended their unilateral ceasefire, warning that the troubled Himalayan kingdom now faces an escalation of violence.

"The United Nations in Nepal is deeply concerned that the people of Nepal are again faced with the prospect of an escalation in fighting, the loss of more lives, and increased and prolonged suffering," it said in a statement.

In the past two months, it added, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had repeatedly urged the rebels to extend their ceasefire and the Nepalese government to reciprocate the truce.

"The United Nations regrets that the many appeals from the people of Nepal and the international community have not been heeded and no progress appears to have been made towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict."

Meanwhile the United States expressed concern Tuesday over the resumption of an insurgency in Nepal, urging Maoist rebels to abandon violence and calling for the restoration of democracy in the Himalayan kingdom.

"The United States is deeply concerned by the Maoists announcement January 2 ending their unilateral ceasefire," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

"We condemn the Maoist bombings of government office buildings outside Kathmandu," he said.

"The United States has consistently called upon the Maoists to abandon violence and rejoin the political mainstream," McCormack said.

"The end of the ceasefire at this time is unhelpful and contrary to that goal. There can be no excuse for the resumption of violence," he said.

"We urge the government to urgently reach out to the political parties and find a way back to democracy in order to restore peace to Nepal," McCormack said Tuesday.

"A multi-party democracy with full respect for civil liberties and human rights is necessary to bring lasting peace to Nepal," he said.

Maoist leader Pranchanda in a statement Monday called off the four-month-old truce, blaming continued action by the army who did not match the ceasefire.

He said the rebels would resume hostilities against government forces but would not target civilians, a move welcomed by a leading human rights organisation.

"We hope that the Maoists will give high priority to civilians' security while waging war against the state," said Kundan Aryal, general secretary of the Informal Sector Service Centre.

On Tuesday, there were three blasts in the western tourist town of Pokhara, bringing to six the number of explosions since the end of the ceasefire. Police said there were no injuries and minimal damage.

They said one of the blasts occurred at a police station but could not confirm a report that one man had been injured.

There were similar minor explosions Monday evening in Pokhara and in Butwal and Bhairahawa, two small towns southwest of the capital, but no reports of damage or injuries.

The government Tuesday branded the ceasefire a Maoist ploy. "The Maoists said they opted for a ceasefire upon requests from political parties and civil society but the Maoists ended the ceasefire despite repeated calls for a truce extension. It proves that the whole ceasefire was just a sham," Home Minister Kamal Thapa told journalists.

One leading opposition politician said the resumption of hostilities was inevitable following repeated army attacks.

"Naturally, they will resort to violence after breaking the ceasefire and it is quite understandable," Ram Sharan Mahat, leader of the Nepali Congress party, told AFP.