Nepal Rebels Pledge to Press on with Peace Talks
Nepal’s Maoist rebels have pledged to commit to peace talks with the government, but warned they would break a two-week-old truce if there was any hint of deception during negotiations. “We will make maximum efforts for a progressive solution,” rebel leader Prachanda said in a statement released on Sunday. “Our party has taken the process…very seriously and will go to the talks with responsibility.” But Prachanda said the cease-fire could end “at any point” and warned of a “decisive war if there is dishonesty, conspiracy and deception against the basic interests of the people and the people’s war.” His statement comes ahead of Thursday’s seventh anniversary of the start of the revolt in which more than 7,200 people have been killed. The rebels want to topple the monarchy and create a one-party communist republic. Full Story