Nepal rebels say ready for talks with UN

KATHMANDU - Nepal's Maoist rebels are ready for talks with the United Nations to establish peace and democracy, the militants' leader said yesterday.

Comments by the elusive Maoist chief Prachanda came a day after UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, began a five-day visit to the kingdom to help find a solution to the conflict in the Himalayan nation.

"Our party is ready for talks with anyone (in the international community) including the United Nations to meet the aspirations of the Nepali people for democracy, peace and prosperity," Prachanda said in a statement.

Brahimi is expected to meet King Gyanendra, who fired the prime minister and seized power in February, and meet leaders of political parties before returning to New York on July 15.

The rebels launched a rebellion in 1996 to set up a communist republic and topple the monarchy.

Gyanendra said he was forced to seize power in February to crush the rebellion that has killed at least 12,500 people. He said infighting by myriad political parties was also hampering peace efforts.

But Gyanendra is no closer to talks with the guerrillas or to a deal with the seven squabbling parties.

Since pulling out of peace talks in 2003 amid a row over the future of monarchy, the rebels had been demanding the involvement of the UN or any other international organisation in any future talks.

They have refused negotiations with the government since Gyanendra assumed power and Prachanda said the king's power grab was the main problem.

Prachanda also appealed the seven mainstream political parties to begin talks with the Maoists to put pressure on the monarch.

"We can hold serious discussions on all political matters," he said.

The seven parties, which held more than 195 seats in the 205-member parliament dissolved in 2002, have refused to hold talks with the rebels unless they give up violence.

- REUTERS