Kathmandu: A top U. N. Human rights official arrived in Nepal on Friday to assess the situation since communist rebels joined mainstream politics to end years of insurgency. 

Louise Arbour, the U. N. High commissioner for human rights, came on a six day visit to this Himalayan nation where she is scheduled to meet top Government and Maoist rebel leaders. Arbour told reporters she would also meet with victims of human rights abuses and groups that represent them and their families.

 "The purpose of my visit is to show my support for human rights and peace process in Nepal," she said.

 She is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Prachanda, leader of the Maoist rebels who recently signed a peace accord and joined an interim Parliament, leaving behind their armed revolt in Nepal.

 Before the rebels entered peace talks last year, they fought government troops for 10 years. During the conflict, which left more than 13,000 people dead, both the army and rebels were accused of widespread human rights abuses, including torture and murder.

"The conflict has ended, but Nepal faces important human rights challenges in this period of transition," Arbour said.

 At the height of the conflict, hundreds of people disappeared after being arrested or taken captive.

The Maoist rebels have been accused of abducting people they suspected were government informants or political opponents, holding them captive and in many cases executing them.

At the same time, the military has been blamed for allegedly arresting anyone suspected of having links to the rebels and denying them access to family members or lawyers. Maoists have begun handing over their weapons to U. N. Arms monitors this week and thousands of their fighters are to be confined until elections later this year.