Kathmandu: Nepal's fragile peace collapsed on August 27, with Maoists calling off the seven-month old ceasefire, prompting the government to put the country on a security alert.

"Since the government has ended the possibility of resolving the conflict through peace talks and ceasefire, we are declaring end of the ceasefire…and peace negotiations with the government," said a statement by Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda.

The statement comes a day after six policemen and 10 Maoists were killed as the rebels intensified their attacks against security personnel and called for a general strike on August 27 in Eastern Nepal to protest the killing of their 19 comrades.

"Our party thinks that there is no relevance of continuing cease-fire, code of conduct and peace process with this government at the moment," Prachanda said.

But he did not rule out the possibility of holding a dialogue with the government if Kathmandu is ready to recognise "people's sovereignty".

Reacting to Prachanda's statement, government-Maoist talks facilitator Padmaratna Tuladhar said that it has seriously blocked the peace process.

However, the cease-fire is still not totally broken as the Maoists have still not closed the door for dialogue, he said.

PTI