This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6273535.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Nepal rebel powers to be halted Nepal Maoists disband government
(about 8 hours later)
The parallel government set up by Nepal's Maoist rebels during their insurgency is due to be dissolved, leader of the Maoists, Prachanda, says. The leader of Nepal's Maoists has formally announced that the parallel government set up by the rebels during their insurgency has been dissolved.
The declaration was made by the Maoist leader, Prachanda, on Thursday.
Correspondents say abolishing the Maoist administration which holds sway over large areas of rural Nepal is one of the key steps in the peace process.Correspondents say abolishing the Maoist administration which holds sway over large areas of rural Nepal is one of the key steps in the peace process.
The move comes after Maoists joined other parties in parliament. The move comes after Maoists joined other parties in parliament, with elections due to be held in June.
Prachanda said his party has not abandoned the goal of making Nepal a communist state. Widespread relief
"As per the agreement reached with the government, our party declares that the people's governments and people's courts run by our party in the past have been dissolved from today," Prachanda said.
Maoists regarded their court system as the heart of their government
Earlier he said that his party has not abandoned the goal of making Nepal a communist state.
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says there will be widespread relief in Nepal at Prachanda's statement about dissolving the parallel government.The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says there will be widespread relief in Nepal at Prachanda's statement about dissolving the parallel government.
Earlier this week, the Maoists began putting their weapons in storage as part of the peace deal agreed last year with the government.Earlier this week, the Maoists began putting their weapons in storage as part of the peace deal agreed last year with the government.
Since the early days of the Maoist insurgency which lasted ten years from 1996, huge numbers of Nepalis have been subject to what they call their people's government. A UN spokesman in Nepal, Ian Martin, told the BBC the weapons would still be accessible.
'Past mistakes' "The agreement doesn't envisage the weapons being put permanently beyond use at this stage," he said.
"On the contrary the agreement provides that both the Maoists and the equivalent number of Nepal army weapons will be locked under a single key system where the single key is retained by the army in question.
"They're being put under United Nations monitoring, not at this stage being put permanently beyond use."
The rebels fought a 10-year guerrilla war
Since the early days of the Maoist insurgency which lasted 10 years from 1996, huge numbers of Nepalis have been subject to what the Maoists called their people's government.
That has meant paying out large sums of money which the rebels call taxes and in rural areas having access to some mainly rudimentary Maoist infrastructure.That has meant paying out large sums of money which the rebels call taxes and in rural areas having access to some mainly rudimentary Maoist infrastructure.
This included a large network of people's courts whose penalties were crude but swift and in some cases popular.This included a large network of people's courts whose penalties were crude but swift and in some cases popular.
Prachanda said however that his party had not abandoned its aim of establishing a communist state just because it was entering parliament and a power sharing government. Without giving details, Prachanda said the Maoists had decided to have meetings with the people and apologise for past mistakes and weaknesses, which he admitted had been many.
He said it was a question of achieving this in a more concrete and democratic manner. But, as before, there was hardline rhetoric - he said that "regressive elements" continued to blame the rebels for having carried out extra-judicial killings.
Maoists regarded their court system as the heart of their governmentWithout being specific he said the Maoists had decided to have meetings with the people and apologise for past mistakes and weaknesses, which he admitted had been many.
But, as before, there was hardline rhetoric - he spoke of the Maoists so-called killings which he said were blamed on them by regressive elements.
The announcement to dissolve the parallel government is due even as former rebels forces are putting their weapons in storage.
Nepal's army is also expected to lock up a similar quantity of weapons when the rebels' arms are put out of use.
Next stepNext step
The Maoists took their seats in an interim parliament on Monday.The Maoists took their seats in an interim parliament on Monday.
The United Nations has played a critical part in brokering the peace deal. The UN has played a critical part in brokering the peace deal.
Nine months ago the Maoists were still an outlawed group but they will now have a share of power in the Himalayan kingdom.Nine months ago the Maoists were still an outlawed group but they will now have a share of power in the Himalayan kingdom.
Under the interim constitution, they have about a quarter of parliament's 330 seats for their members.Under the interim constitution, they have about a quarter of parliament's 330 seats for their members.
These include a large number of women and members of marginalised social groups.These include a large number of women and members of marginalised social groups.
Nepal's army will have to give up as many weapons as the Maoists
Joining the new interim government, probably in February, will be the Maoists' next step.Joining the new interim government, probably in February, will be the Maoists' next step.
The constituent assembly being elected in June will decide whether to scrap the monarchy or not.The constituent assembly being elected in June will decide whether to scrap the monarchy or not.
King Gyanendra was forced to give up direct rule last year after mass protests.King Gyanendra was forced to give up direct rule last year after mass protests.
He has since been stripped of all powers and does not have even a ceremonial role in the interim constitution.He has since been stripped of all powers and does not have even a ceremonial role in the interim constitution.
In separate developments Prachanda said that he and two other Maoist leaders were unable to participate in the interim government of Prime Minister GP Koirala.
He said that it would only be appropriate for them to join the legislature after elections to the chamber had been held.