Washington: The United States today (October 31) declared the insurgent Maoist Communist Party of Nepal to be a threat to US national security and froze the group's assets as part of sanctions.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said in a notice published in the Federal Register: "I hereby determine that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States."

The party is also known by other names, including the United Revolutionary People's Council, the People's Liberation Army of Nepal and the CPN (M), all of which are covered by the sanctions.

The State Department said the designation, which freezes any assets, the Maoists may have in the US or under US jurisdiction had been made on October 23 but had been kept secret until today to prevent the group from transferring those funds and escaping the sanctions.

PTI