Rebel arms shouldn't be seen as stumbling block to peace

Speaking to a Times of India reporter at a secret jungle location in Nepal, Prachanda, or "the fierce one", also repeated a call for United Nations mediation in the conflict.

More than 12,000 people have killed since the rebels in 1996 launched a bid to overthrow the monarchy and install a communist republic in Nepal.

"We want the involvement of the United Nations to create an atmosphere of confidence so that the possession of weapons by us does not become a stumbling block in the peace process," said Prachanda, whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

"As proof of this we have already declared a unilateral ceasefire now."

Prachanda on September 3 declared a three-month unilateral truce in what he said was a bid to pave the way for talks with political parties on forming a united front against February's seizure of power by King Gyanendra.

The monarch sacked a four-party government on February 1, accusing it of failing to tackle the rebellion.

Nepal has been in turmoil since Gyanendra seized power, cracked down on dissidents, rounded up hundreds of activists and clamped down on the media.

Asked why he now wanted to resolve the conflict through negotiations, Prachanda replied: "Ours is not a dogmatic party. We chalk out our action plan after analysing a subject in the context of the prevailing situation."