Friday, July 28 2006 17:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Maoists in Nepal today (July 28, 2006) officially extended their ceasefire by another three months to facilitate the ongoing peace talks with the Government.

Rebel sources said Maoist chief Prachanda has issued a statement to extend the ceasefire by three more months to facilitate the peace talks with the seven-party alliance government.

The Maoists had announced the three-month ceasefire on April 27 soon after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala assumed power following the Joint People's Movement that restored democracy ending the direct rule of King Gyanendra.

The government had reciprocated the Maoists' truce by declaring an indefinite ceasefire to move ahead the peace process.

The multi-party government had signed an eight-point agreement with Maoists during the high-level talks between Koirala and rebel chief Prachanda on June 16 in which both sides agreed to keep their armies under UN supervision, form an interim government inclusive of the rebels and hold constituent assembly polls within a year.