UN envoy starts talks to end Maoist revolt

Brahimi, a special adviser to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, arrived Sunday and is scheduled to meet King Gyanendra, senior government officials, leaders of political parties as well as representatives of Nepalese society.

"Brahimi is meeting top UN officials in Kathmandu Monday," the UN official said, adding that the envoy's visit ends on Friday.

Meanwhile, Nepal's Maoist rebels yesterday called for talks with an alliance of political parties working to restore democracy in the Himalayan nation after a royal takeover in February.

"Our party urges the seven parties to form without delay its authoritative team that can hold talks ... to find a democratic way out of the current intricate political situation in the country," said Maoist leader Prachanda.

The seven parties formed an alliance to organise protests after King Gyanendra sacked a four-party coalition government and seized power to tackle a Maoist insurgency that has claimed about 12,000 lives since 1996.

One of the alliance leaders, Congress president Girija Prasad, recently also urged talks with the rebels to bring them into the political process.

Prachanda said in a statement: "Our party has taken as a positive note Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala's call for a dialogue with our party."

King Gyanendra has never invited the rebels to hold talks but has urged them to lay down their arms and join the political process.

The rebels, who want to overthrow the monarchy and install a communist republic, have previously rejected holding talks with the king.

"Our party has clearly stated its readiness to launch a joint effective movement against the monarchy," Prachanda said.

Maoist rebels have been fighting to establish a communist state in Nepal since 1996, and their insurgency has claimed around 12,000 lives.

The Maoists have stepped up their campaign since King Gyanendra sacked the coalition government, imposed a state of emergency and assumed absolute power on February 1, saying the moves were necessary to tackle the insurgency.