Truce effectively over
Nepal Maoists say
AFP, Kathmandu
Maoist rebels said yesterday that a seven-month truce was effectively over after Nepal's government refused to agree to their key demand of a constitutional assembly. "The significance of the ceasefire has now ended," said a Maoist statement quoted to AFP by Padma Ratna Tuladhar, a rebel-appointed go-between in the peace process. The Maoists had given the government a deadline which expired yesterday to agree to elections for a "constituent assembly" that would redraft Nepal's constitution. But the government refused, saying the rebels must first give up their weapons. The assembly dispute helped scuttle a long-delayed third round of peace talks last week. The two sides agreed a ceasefire on January 29.
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