Nepal rebels slam government ahead of peace talks

KATHMANDU, Sep 28 (Reuters) Nepal's Maoist rebels accused the multi-party interim government today of reneging on promises and setting new conditions in a bid to hold on to power, a day before the likely resumption of peace talks.

The negotiations, between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda, aim to resolve differences between the two sides over disarming the rebels and the future of the monarchy before drafting a new constitution.

The differences have stalled the peace process in the troubled country and also delayed the Maoists joining the interim government as some political parties say the rebels must give up arms before becoming a part of the administration.

The Maoists have rejected it and a top rebel leader charged the parties of delaying talks to stick to power they won after weeks of street protests in April against King Gyanendra's absolute rule.

''They don't want any progressive change. The government is dilly-dallying to continue in power,'' Baburam Bhattarai, number two to Prachanda, told Reuters.

''Monarchy should be suspended, the (state) army as well as the economy should be restructured. These are the key issues that need to be sorted out in the talks,'' he said.

Koirala and Prachanda held their first formal talks in June and the two sides agreed to appoint the Maoists in an interim cabinet that is to oversee elections to a new assembly.

The assembly would draft a new constitution and decide the future of the monarchy -- a key demand of the Maoists, whose decade-long war has left more than 13,000 people dead.

But political parties want the rebels to put their weapons away as they fear the rebels could otherwise intimidate voters.

''The Maoists must not continue the politics of guns any more,'' said Ram Chandra Poudel, a top leader of Koirala's centrist Nepali Congress party.

''They should join the mainstream like any other party and win the people's support.'' The government and the rebels have been observing a ceasefire since the king stepped down after grabbing power and ruling the impoverished nation for nearly 15 months. The Maoists, who have been fighting to turn Nepal into a communist state, have threatened to launch street protests and cripple cities across the nation to pressure the government.

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