Maoists urged to halt crippling blockade in Nepal

NEPAL: A road blockade dictated by Maoist rebels crippled transport in Nepal for a third day Thursday, driving up food prices and prompting political parties to urge the guerrillas to call off the protest.

The rebels ordered all vehicles to be kept off roads in and out of the capital, district headquarters and other towns in efforts to oust King Gyanendra, who sacked the

government and seized direct control a year ago.

"The blockade is causing more hardship to the public than the royal government," said Pradeep Nepal, spokesman for the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). "We have appealed to the

Maoists to withdraw their blockade immediately," Nepal told AFP.

Last November, sidelined political parties entered a loose alliance with the rebels in a bid to restore democracy. Indian and Nepalese media have reported that the Maoists and seven-party alliance were holding fresh consultations in New Delhi. Political parties said they remained optimistic that the rebels would halt the blockade.

"Talks have been going on to persuade them to withdraw the blockade and I am fairly confident that they will withdraw it," said Ram Sharan Mahat, joint general secretary of the Nepali Congress party. Kathmandu, Friday, AFP