Int'l jurists urge Nepali king to declare truce

The Maoists declared a three-month unilateral truce early last month in hopes of urging political parties to talks on forming a united opposition against Gyanendra, who seized power in February.

The government has not reciprocated with any similar announcement.

"If the two sides really desire peace, they now should not only both declare an indefinite ceasefire but also commit themselves to a human rights code of conduct," commission General Secretary Nicholas Howen said in Kathmandu.

He was speaking at the end of a four-day fact-finding mission to the Himalayan nation, where Gyanendra sacked the government and grabbed power in a move he said was necessary to end the nine-year Maoist revolt.

The Maoists campaign to install a communist republic in the kingdom has killed 12,000 people.