United Nations: UN Security Council has urged Nepal's new Government and its major political parties to cooperate in a spirit of compromise to ensure the peace process continues.

Talking to reporters yesterday, Ambassador Jorge Urbina of Costa Rica, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, said the 15-member panel reaffirmed its support for the peace process and welcomed the progress made so far.

Nepal endured a decade-long civil war that claimed an estimated 13,000 lives until the Government and the Maoists signed a peace deal in 2006. The election to the Constituent Assembly were held earlier this year as a part of the peace process.

In May, the nation abolished its 240-year-old monarchy and declared itself a republic. Ram Baran Yadav was subsequently elected as the country s first President.

The UN has been assisting Nepal in its peace process through a special political mission, known as UNMIN, set up in January 2007. As part of its mandate, the mission monitors the management of arms and armed personnel of both the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) and the Nepal Army, and assists in monitoring ceasefire arrangements.

Urbina said the Council members urged the Government and the other political parties to "work together in a spirit of compromise" to expedite the peace process and take the decisions necessary to allow UNMIN to carry out its work.

Earlier, the head of UNMIN and the Secretary-General s Special Representative in Nepal, Ian Martin, briefed the Council on the most recent developments, particularly concerning the work of the mission.

Last weekend Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Nepal, telling its leaders to forge ahead with rehabilitation and integration of thousands of Maoist ex-fighters as part of the peace process.
Source : PTI