Monday, June 19 2006 14:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal Government will request United Nations to help manage weapons of Maoist rebels and security forces and monitor them to ensure free and fair polls to a constituent assembly, but said it would not invite any foreign military for maintaining peace.

The Government is preparing to invite the UN officially to help manage arms of both the sides and monitor them to ensure free and fair constituent assembly polls, peace negotiator and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Pradip Gyawali told reporters here today (June 19, 2006).

Government has already drafted a request letter, which is to be forwarded to the UN very soon asking the world body to monitor the arms and the ongoing peace process, he said.

Foreign Ministry has been instructed to forward the letter to the UN to officially invite it for the purposes.

He, however, ruled out inviting any foreign army in the country's territory to maintain peace during the ceasefire period.

"We are inviting the UN only to monitor the arms of both sides but not inviting any military in our territory for maintaining peace," he said in response to a question.

"Nepal government has already said that there is no need for foreign mediation to move ahead the dialogue process, " he added.

Gyawali said the effective implementation of the eight point agreement reached between the seven political parties and the Maoists after landmark talks between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda on Sunday depended on how the rebels settle their arms.

"The Maoists have great responsibility in this critical juncture when the Nepal Army has already returned to the barrack," Gyawali said.

"The Government and the seven party alliance had taken maximum flexibility to bring the rebels into mainstream politics," the minister said.

"We have agreed to dissolve the House of Representatives reinstated by the popular movement by constituting a viable alternative that could guard people's fundamental rights and national sovereignty," he said.

"The Maoists should translate their commitment into practice by putting an end to extortion, as they have shown their commitment towards peace process in public forums," he added.