Thursday, December 15 2005 15:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal's royal government today (Dec 15, 2005) ruled out reciprocating the unilateral ceasefire announced by Maoists, accusing the rebels of not being genuinely interested in peace and continuing 'acts of terror' such as killings, abductions and extortion.

"It is not the state that provoked the insurgency so there is no question of reciprocating the truce. Until and unless we are convinced that there will be lasting peace, the government will not respond", Communication Minister Shris Rana told reporters here.

Maoists had earlier this month extended their unilateral ceasefire, announced in September, to January 2.

But Rana, who is also a government spokesman, said the rebels "have not stopped their acts of terror such as killing, abducting and extorting money from people".

"When you go to the remote villages, the ordinary people there have not yet felt decrease in violence," Rana said in an interaction with reporters at his residence here.

Claiming that the rebels' ceasefire is "just their strategy to accumulate more strength", he said, "They are not genuinely interested in restoring peace".

The Maoists have been fighting an insurgency to topple monarchy, in which some 12,000 people have died since 1996.

Rana also asked the Maoists to take part in the upcoming municipality elections after laying down arms.

King Gyanendra has already asked those who deviated from their path to come to peaceful ways and the Maoists can join the mainstream by abandoning violence, he said.

He said the government was committed to hold Municipal elections even without declaring ceasefire.

The government can hold elections, even if the conflict continues, he said.

Responding to a question, he said the government will declare ceasefire 'when it becomes feasible', but did not elaborate.