Last Updated: Friday, 24 September, 2004, 09:24 GMT 10:24 UK
Nepal Communist Maoists reject talks plea
By Sushil Sharma
BBC correspondent in Kathmandu
Maoist terrorists
The Maoists have said talks must be with King Gyanendra
Maoists in Nepal have rejected a new appeal by the prime minister for talks to end their insurgency.
Rebel spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the government had neither the authority nor sincerity to hold talks.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba issued his plea on Wednesday. The Maoists have previously insisted on direct talks with King Gyanendra.
The Maoists have been engaged in an armed struggle since 1996 to replace the monarchy with a communist republic.
Constitution
Mr Mahara made his response to the latest call in an interview broadcast by private radio stations.
He accused the government of being dependent on foreign forces.
The communists have been critical of the support extended to the government by India and the United States.
Mr Mahara also said Nepal's government wanted to step up operations under the guise of peace initiatives.
Peace talks broke down in August last year over a key communist demand for a constituent assembly that would draw up a new constitution.
Violence has increased since the breakdown of the talks, raising the number of casualties in the eight-year conflict to more than 9,000.
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Friday, September 24, 2004
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