Nepal rebels said close to deal on arms with govt

KATHMANDU, Nov 5 (Reuters) Nepal's rebel Maoists are close to a deal with the government over supervision of their weapons, the group's chief was quoted as saying today in a key step towards salvaging faltering peace moves.

The process, which began soon after King Gyanendra handed power back to the political parties in April, has been hinging on the Maoists' insistence not to disarm before next year's planned elections for a constituent assembly.

But rebel chief Prachanda said today that an accord was likely to be announced tomorrow independent Kantipur television said.

He told party activists near the western resort town of Pokhara, 125 km west of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, the rebels were close to an agreement to lock their weapons in temporary camps.

''A bell will ring if anybody tried to unlock it and the United Nations will supervise the weapons inside the barrack,'' a news Web site, www.himalayantimes.com, quoted Prachanda as saying.

He did not elaborate on the exact mechanism and government officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Maoists, fighting Nepal's monarchy since 1996, and the multi-party government formed after King Gyanendra relinquished power, agreed to a ceasefire and began peace talks in May.

The government agreed to include the rebels in an interim cabinet to oversee elections for the constituent assembly which would write a new constitution for Nepal.

The vote had long been a key rebel demand to end their decade-old insurgency in which more than 13,000 people have died.

But before this, the government wants the rebels to disarm and keep their weapons under UN supervision.

The Maoists, however, have been resisting this so far.

REUTERS AKJ BD2036