Nepal rebels to extend truce to boost peace talks

KATHMANDU, Oct 29 (Reuters) Nepal's Maoist rebels plan to extend a ceasefire due to expire today in a bid to boost peace talks that have slowed due to differences over the future of the monarchy and the management of rebel arms, a spokesman said.

The Maoists had declared a three-month ceasefire in April, after weeks of street protests forced King Gyanendra to cede power to a multi-party government.

It was extended in July by another three months and is due to expire at midnight (2345 IST).

''There is no question of breaking it now. We'll extend it.

A formal announcement will be made later today,'' Maoist spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara told Reuters.

The multi-party government and Maoists began talks in May aimed at ending a decade-old conflict in which more than 13,000 people have died.

''Our talks are going on positively. If there is a consensus with the government we are in favour of signing a formal ceasefire agreement,'' Mahara said. ''For the present the existing truce will be extended.'' Mahara's comments came hours after rebel chief Prachanda had an informal meeting with Premier Girija Prasad Koirala to try and narrow differences before the rebels join an interim government as part of a power sharing pact.

Under the deal, the interim government will supervise elections for an assembly that will decide the fate of Nepal's monarchy.

But differences over how to manage the rebels' weapons as well as handling the status of the king during the run-up to the polls had dogged dialogue between the two parties over the past six months.

The Maoists have been fighting to set up a communist republic in the impoverished Himalayan nation since 1996, but now say they will honour the outcome of the elections and accept the political future mapped out by the new assembly.

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