Nepal Maoists still killing, abducting people-U.N.

KATHMANDU, June 27 (Reuters) The United Nations said today that Nepal's Maoist rebels were killing and abducting people despite a truce between the new government and the insurgents in late April.

Asking the rebels to end the violence, the UN Office of the High Commissioner For Human Rights (OHCHR) said nine people have been killed reportedly by Maoists and two abducted since May.

''In some of those cases, local CPN-M (Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist) leaders accepted responsibility and apologised,'' the agency said in a statement.

In most of the cases, the victims were accused of ''crimes'' or ''offences'', it added. ''Civilians and CPN-M cadres suspected of criminal activity should be turned over to the relevant state authorities,'' the statement said.

The agency said the rebels had to probe allegations of abuses by its own cadres.

Maoists leaders could not be contacted for their comment.

Nepal's Maoist guerrillas supported a popular and bloody protest against the royalist government of King Gyanendra who was forced to cede power in April to a seven-party alliance.

This month, the Himalayan nation's new government struck a deal with the rebels, agreeing to dissolve parliament and set up an interim administration which will include the Maoists.

The interim government would oversee elections for a special assembly which would draft a new constitution and review the role of the monarchy.

As part of the deal, the rebels vowed to end their parallel administration in much of the countryside but many villagers and businessmen say Maoist intimidation and extortion continues.

More than 13,000 people have been killed in the decade-old Maoist revolt.

REUTERS HS RS2202