UN to send monitors to Nepal to support peace deal

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 30 (Reuters) The United Nations is preparing to quickly dispatch monitors to Nepal to help enforce a landmark peace agreement between the government and Maoist rebels, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.

In a letter presented to the 15-nation Security Council, Annan said he hoped to soon send a technical assessment mission, an advance group of up to 35 monitors and an advance team of up to 25 election experts to Kathmandu in response to formal requests for help from the government and rebels.

Council diplomats said Britain was drafting a statement that would formally approve Annan's proposals.

Annan said he wanted the United Nations to respond ''immediately and concretely'' to the Nepalese requests.

''Over the past several years, I have been consulting and working closely with all sides in Nepal to encourage a negotiated political solution to the conflict. The present circumstances appear to provide the best opportunity yet for achieving that aim,'' he said yesterday.

The two sides last week signed the comprehensive peace accord declaring a formal end to a decade-old conflict in which more than 13,000 people have died.

Under the deal, both sides have agreed to let UN civilian personnel monitor the management of their armies and arms, which are to be locked away.

The United Nations is also offering to coordinate foreign financial support for planned elections and to provide technical assistance to the Nepalese Election Commission.

REUTERS SBA BST0503