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Annan urges truce between Nepal’s Government and Communist rebels

Annan urges truce between Nepal’s Government and Communist rebels

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Voicing serious concern that fighting could escalate in Nepal after the impending expiration of the unilateral ceasefire declared by Comunist rebels, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged a truce with the country’s Government.

Voicing serious concern that fighting could escalate in Nepal after the impending expiration of the unilateral ceasefire declared by Comunist rebels, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged a truce with the country’s Government.

The four-month-old ceasefire declared by the Communist party of Nepal (Maoist)(CPN-M) expires on 2 January 2006. In a statement released today by his spokesman, the Secretary-General voiced deep regret that despite numerous appeals, no progress appears to have been made towards a mutually agreed truce between the parties.

“The people of Nepal have benefited from the de-escalation of violence in the last four months and they would bear the brunt of a renewal in fighting,” the statement pointed out. “In the interest of peace and the welfare of civilians throughout the country, the Secretary-General therefore reiterates his strong appeal to the Government of Nepal to reciprocate the ceasefire and to the CPN-M to extend its unilateral ceasefire.”

Mr. Annan also pledged that the UN would assist the parties at their request.