Nepal declares cease fire with Maoists, calls for peace talks

NEPAL: Nepal's new Cabinet has matched a cease-fire declaration by communist rebels and said it would drop terrorism charges against them in an effort to end a decade-old insurgency that has killed 13,000 people.

The rebels had joined with a seven-party alliance to force King Gyandendra to relinquish power last week and, in a dramatic reversal, the guerrillas now appear to be headed for a role in the political mainstream. Deputy Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli on Wednesday urged the rebels to join peace talks and said that all terrorism-related charges against them will be dropped. The government also will ask Interpol to quash international arrest warrants for the Maoists' leaders.

"We are sure the Maoists will come for the peace talks soonest," Home Minister Krishna Sitaula said. "We believe the talks will be successful because, unlike the previous governments, we have the support of the people."

He pointed out that the alliance already has met the rebels' key demand by committing to rewrite the Constitution. The last mutual cease-fire, in 2003, broke down over the government's refusal to meet the demand. Another joint truce failed in 2001.

"The previous governments did not have the courage to call for elections for a constitutional assembly," Sitaula said.

There was no immediate response from the rebels. But in a worrying sign, Prachanda, the Maoists' leader, has accused the seven-party alliance that led three weeks of protests against the king of engaging in a power struggle.

He also said the legislature, which convened Friday for the first time in four years, isn't up to the tasks at hand.

"This is not the solution to the problems and the demand of the Maoists," he wrote in a pro-Maoist weekly newspaper. "The House has no fresh mandate and cannot solve the problems." Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said the Cabinet also invalidated February's municipal elections for mayors and city and town council members. No date was set for new balloting.

The list of critical issues facing the new government is long and rife with treacherous waters to navigate while trying to maintain at least a semblance of unity.

The fight for Cabinet appointments already has sparked serious grumbling. In addition, about 200 protesters tried to force their way through the iron gates outside Parliament on Tuesday, demanding prompt action on a raft of key issues.

Kathmandu, Thursday, AP