Kathmandu, July 28: Maoist rebels have threatened to end the six-month old ceasefire, setting a Thursday deadline for the Nepalese government to comply with their key demands, including termination of security cooperation with the United States and restriction of army movement. Chief Maoist negotiator Baburam Bhattarai today handed over a letter carrying the rebels' response to a government invitation for the third round of talks. The Maoists have layed down five pre-conditions for resumption of the stalled talks demanding implementation of all the agreements reached in the last two rounds, army's commitment to accept any future agreement and clarification from the royal palace whether they would accept any understanding reached in the next round of talks.

The also demanded termination of five year anti-terror pact with the us, expulsion of the US defence expert from Nepal and disclosure of the government's political agenda, according to peace talks facilitators.

The Maoists have threatened to end the six month cease-fire if the government failed to fulfil their five pre-conditions by July 31, Daman Nath Dhungana, one of the government-Maoist talks facilitators, was quoted as saying by radio Nepal. The Maoists have asked the government to fulfil all agreements made during the earlier two rounds of talks which mainly include releasing three central level Maoist leaders, restricting army movement within five km of barracks and disclosing whereabouts of the disappeared Maoist cadres, Dhungana said. Bureau Report