UN arms monitors to arrive in Nepal this month

Kathmandu, Dec 8: United Nations monitors will start arrivingin Nepal this month to monitor the arms of Maoist rebels and the NepalArmy, and push forward their fledgling peace process, a top UN envoysaid.

Ian Martin, personal representative of the UN Secretary GeneralKofi Annan, yesterday said a technical assessment team was likely toarrive in Kathmandu at the weekend to decide on the number of officialsrequired to oversee the arms.

This will be followed by the arrival of dozens of arms monitors in two or three weeks, he said.

''The UN is committed as rapidly as we can to put in place the assistance that is requested from us,'' Martin told reporters.

He said at least 35 monitors would be deployed initially.

Under last month's historic peace accord, Maoist rebels haveagreed to keep their arms under lock and key and their men in campsbefore next year's scheduled elections for a special constituentassembly that will write a new constitution for Nepal.

The Nepal Army has also agreed to keep an equal number of weapons under lock and key and confine its soldiers to barracks.

The UN monitors will supervise this arrangement.

More than 13,000 people died in the Maoist rebellion againstNepal's monarchy since 1996. The rebels and the government declared aceasefire in May after King Gyanendra gave in to weeks of pro-democracyprotests and handed power back to the political parties, more than ayear after he took over.

The UN will also send an advance team of up to 25 election expertsto help Nepal's Election Commission to prepare for next year's polls.

Reuters