Saturday, September 3 2005 16:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Maoist rebels in Nepal today (Sept 3, 2005) announced unilateral ceasefire for three months with immediate effect to help create conducive atmosphere to end political crisis in the Himalayan kingdom.

Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) President Prachanda alias Pushpa Kamal Dahal while issuing a statement on cease-fire hoped that his party's decision would motivate both national and international forces who want to see peace in Nepal and encourage them to take new initiative to end current political stalemate in the country.

"We are hopeful that the decision will create conducive atmosphere for ending the political crisis among national political forces including the King and the United Nations," he said.

From today all the offensive actions of the party have been halted, Prachanda announced.

The recent decision of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) regarding election to the constituent assembly and the removal of "Constitutional Monarchy" clause from Nepali Congress statute had further strengthened the political basis for collaboration between his party and seven party alliances currently launching restoration of democracy, he said.

Prachanda said his party cadres were strictly instructed not to carry out any offensive acts but added that the Maoists would remain in a "position of active defence and will resist if there is some offensive from the side of the enemy".