Nepalese Government, Rebels Announce Truce
By REUTERS
Filed at 11:25 a.m. ET
KATHMANDU, Nepal (Reuters) - The Nepal government and Maoist rebels said on Monday they would stop all offensive action against each other to pave the way for peace talks to end a bloody rebellion in the impoverished Himalayan nation.
``Instructions have already been given to security personnel not to carry out any action (against the rebels),'' Nepal's new Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said in a statement broadcast over state radio. ``Other steps necessary to create an atmosphere of confidence for talks will be taken soon.''
The Maoist party said it also had suspended offensive action as a first step toward peace talks. Maoist party chief Prachanda urged in a statement guerrilla fighters ``to suspend all offensive actions for the present to create an atmosphere for talks'' with the government.
Neither side said how long the truce would last.