United Nations, Sept 30: The Nepalese government remains open to dialogue with Maoist rebels even though they have stepped up attacks after pulling out of a seven-month-old cease-fire, an envoy from the Himalayan kingdom said. Bhekh Thapa, Nepal's ambassador-at-large, said yesterday his government would hold parliamentary elections -- as demanded by many Nepalese in recent protests in defiance of a new ban on public rallies -- as soon as possible but gave no date.
At least four policemen in Nepal were killed and four more injured in an attack by suspected Maoist rebels last night, a police official said. Separately, the defence ministry said soldiers killed 13 rebels on Sunday in five separate skirmishes. Addressing the UN General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting, Thapa said Nepal "Is in the throes of terrorism" and accused the rebels of pulling out of peace talks and unleashing "unspeakable violence on the people" even though the government "showed flexibility to accommodate several of their demands and out on the table a comprehensive package of reforms." The government "has the duty to protect the life and liberty of people and to defend freedom and democracy in the country," and it "will do so resolutely but responsibly," the envoy said.

"While doing so," Thapa added, "We have kept the door of dialogue open."

Bureau Report