Saturday, December 31 2005 13:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan yesterday (Dec 30,2005) urged Nepal's Government to 'reciprocate' a unilateral rebel ceasefire which is due to expire on January 2.

"The secretary general is seriously concerned that fighting could escalate in Nepal after the four-month-old unilateral ceasefire declared by the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN)(M) expires on 2 January, 2006," a spokesman for Annan said in a statement.

"In the interest of peace and the welfare of civilians throughout the country, the secretary general therefore reiterates his strong appeal to the Government of Nepal to reciprocate the ceasefire and to the CPN-M to extend its unilateral ceasefire," the statement urged.

"The United Nations stands ready to assist in the realization of this objective should the parties so desire," it added.

The rebels, fighting to install a Communist republic in Nepal, announced a three-month unilateral ceasefire in September and extended it by a month in December.

Last month, the Maoists and leading political parties announced an agreement to pressure King Gyanendra, who seized power in February, to restore democracy, which included the rebels laying down their arms.

The Government has dismissed the ceasefire.