Maoists, Nepali govt edge towards peace talks

The rebels said they had given the new cabinet a "code of conduct" outlining the rules they want to see followed in the wake of ceasefires declared by the Maoists and the government in the Himalayan kingdom.

"We are studying the Maoist code of conduct. Once the government reaches an agreement a committee will be formed to begin dialogue," Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat told AFP Friday.

The minister gave no indication of when peace talks might begin.

After three weeks of mass protests by seven opposition parties in concert with rebel Maoists, Nepal's King Gyanendra finally handed back power to parliament last week, after ruling the country directly for 14 months.

Parliament held its fifth sitting Friday since reopening last week and members discussed punishing those responsible for human rights abuses during the protests that left 17 people dead and hundreds more injured and jailed.

"The government will take action against those who abused power during pro democracy protests," Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula told members of the house of representatives.

Sitaula gave no further details about who would be punished or what actions could be taken against them.

The protests brought an end to King Gyanendra's reign of total power after he sacked the government in February 2005, saying that they were corrupt and had failed to stem a bloody Maoist insurgency that has claimed 12,500 lives.

Once bitter enemies, the ousted political parties formed a loose alliance with the rebels last November, isolating King Gyanendra -- the world's sole Hindu monarch.

On Wednesday, the newly reinstated government called a ceasefire, matching that called by the rebels last week, and urged the Maoists to enter peace talks.

The rebels welcomed the move and, with their demand met for a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution, agreed to join a peace process.

Despite calling a ceasefire, the rebels kidnapped three police officers Wednesday, an officer at police headquarters in Kathmandu told AFP on condition of anonymity.

King Gyanendra's future is in the balance as the political parties begin preparations for peace talks with the rebels, politicians said.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which has 11 seats in the 205-member parliament and was formerly seen as royalist, now sees no place for the king in Nepali politics.