UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has welcomed an accord between Nepals Maoist rebels and opposition parties to restore democracy in the country, BBC Online reports Thursday.
The rebels and seven opposition parties have agreed on a programme to end direct rule by King Gyanendra. The king seized power in February, declaring politicians incapable of ending the rebels insurgency.
Under the deal, the rebels said they would allow independent monitoring if elections for an assembly were held. Some 12.000 people have died in Nepals 10-year civil war.
Mr Annan “welcomes and is carefully studying” the details of the accord and has offered to assist in the peace process.
The government has made no comment on the accord, saying it was studying the 12-point agenda to establish full-fledged democracy.
The rebels have agreed to pursue a peaceful political course to step up pressure on King Gyanendra to restore democracy. The Maoists have been fighting for the abolition of the monarchy and a communist republic.
The rebels have not given up arms yet, but they have agreed to place their armed group under the supervision of the UN or any credible international agency ahead of elections for a constituent assembly.
Mr Annan also urged the rebels to extend their unilateral three-month-long ceasefire which is due to expire in a weeks time.
A seven-party alliance has been engaged in protests over the royal takeover which it called unconstitutional. The royal move helped the parties and the rebels come closer to step up the pressure on the king to give up absolute powers, BBC adds.
