Nepal's Maoist rebel leader announces 3-month cease-fire

KATMANDU, Nepal -- Nepal's Maoist rebels announced a three-month cease-fire that began yesterday, their chief said in a statement -- a move made to win the support of political parties opposed to King Gyanendra's seizure of power in February.

''During this period, our People's Liberation Army [PLA] will be in defensive positions," Prachanda said in a statement. ''The PLA will not launch any offensive from its side."

''We believe our move will encourage all forces, within and outside Nepal, who want peace through a forward-moving political solution," the Maoist chief said.

The Nepali Congress, the biggest party, welcomed the truce.

''We take this very positively," said Arjun Narsingh K.C., a spokesman for the Nepali Congress, adding that he hoped it would help to establish a permanent peace.

Nepal's mainstream political parties said in July that they would hold talks with the rebels to discuss joint protests against Gyanendra's power grab, but added that the rebels must stop the violence first.

Prachanda also promised in July that the rebels would not target unarmed civilians and would stop extortion. He urged the seven political parties to name negotiators for talks on a united campaign against Gyanendra.

The seven parties that controlled more than 190 seats in the 205-member parliament dissolved in 2002 and have been protesting against Gyanendra's Feb. 1 dismissal of the multiparty government and assumption of absolute power. Yesterday, more than 5,000 people attended a rally organized by the seven-party alliance in Katmandu demanding the restoration of democracy.

Activists sat cross-legged carrying red-and-white party flags and banners, criticizing Gyanendra and shouted slogans.

''Down with autocracy, long live democracy," participants shouted as party leaders vowed to intensify the protests.

Gyanendra said his move to take power was prompted by the failure of squabbling parties to quell the increasingly deadly Maoist revolt in which more than 12,500 people have died.

The truce, if it holds, would be the longest since talks collapsed in August 2003.

Analysts said Prachanda's announcement was an important step.

''This could create a more favorable situation for talks between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists," said Padma Ratna Tuladhar, a human rights activist who helped mediate the last peace talks between the government and rebels in August 2003. The talks failed because of a dispute over the role of the monarchy.