United Nations: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has proposed a new United Nations political mission in Nepal to monitor the peace accord between the Government and Maoist rebels.

"While Nepal has made remarkable progress towards peace, the magnitude of the tasks ahead and the potential threats to the peace process must not be underestimated," he said in a report to the Security Council.

The proposed UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has been requested by both the parties.

Ban has recommended that UNMIN be established for a period of 12 months and deploy up to 186 unarmed active and former military officers to monitor Maoist cantonments and Army barracks as required by the ceasefire signed in November.

As requested by the parties, a small team of expert monitors will also be deployed to review all technical aspects of the electoral process for an assembly to decide on the constitutional future of the country.

"The timely, free and fair conduct of the Constituent Assembly election is central to the sustainability of the peace process," Ban wrote.

The mission will establish a small UN police advisory team comprising senior police advisers at national and regional levels to help ensure security during voter registration, campaigning and polling, according to the report.