Kathmandu: Former Nepalese Premier Sher Bahadur Deuba has termed the recent peace overtures by the Maoists as "deceptive" saying the rebels should stop terrorist activities before starting the dialogue process.

Deuba also demanded that King Gyanendra should rectify his "mistake" by withdrawing his October 4 proclamation dismissing the elected government, which he said was "unconstitutional and undemocratic".

Asking the people to be careful about the Maoists' offer for peace talks, Deuba, the president of Nepali Congress (Democratic) called it a "deceptive" move saying the "Maoists should first stop violence and terror before sitting on the table for a dialogue".

Claiming that his government was successful to isolate the Maoists both nationally and internationally, Deuba, who was addressing a public meeting at Kathmandu's Basantapur Durbar square, said it was his efforts that fetched $ 17 million security assistance from the US, besides technical and financial support from foreign countries including India to fight the Maoists.

"I was compelled to mobilise Army against the Maoists after they betrayed the government and attacked Army barracks and government offices by unilaterally breaking ceasefire last year," he said.

While disclosing that he was under pressure to submit his resignation on October 4, when the King dismissed his government and assumed the executive powers of the Cabinet, he asserted that the King has no power to dismiss the elected Prime Minister under the provisions of the Constitution.

PTI