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| Maoist leader warns on Nepal poll | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The leader of Nepal's former Maoist rebels has told supporters in Kathmandu that there are forces trying to disrupt forthcoming elections. | |
| Prachanda was speaking at a mass rally to mark the 11th anniversary of the start of the Maoist rebellion. | |
| Thousands of supporters gathered for Prachanda's first such appearance since emerging from his clandestine existence in June. | |
| Last month the Maoists joined other parties in parliament. | |
| Elections for a constituent assembly are due to take place in June. | |
| 'Sabotage' | |
| Security was tightened for Prachanda's rally and large vehicles were banned from city roads. | |
| "There are reactionary forces trying to sabotage the elections," Prachanda told the crowd. | |
| He told them that if the elections were delayed, it would be up to the people to revolt, the Associated Press news agency reports. | |
| The Maoist insurgency ended with a peace accord in November. But they have been complaining at what they regard as the slow pace at which the peace accords are being implemented. | |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says the city is plastered with posters of Prachanda (the fierce one), whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal. | |
| The rebels fought a 10-year guerrilla war | |
| Prachanda first appeared before the Kathmandu press eight months ago but his life is still a heavily-guarded affair. | Prachanda first appeared before the Kathmandu press eight months ago but his life is still a heavily-guarded affair. |
| UN concern | UN concern |
| The Maoists are storing their weapons away under United Nations supervision and the UN monitoring mission says this is proceeding well. | |
| The former rebels now have over 70 nominated MPs. | |
| But our correspondent says the Maoists' democratic credentials are still in doubt. | |
| The UN mission has expressed concern at reports of Maoists violently attacking gatherings of other parties and of them seizing and interfering with lists of voters currently being drawn up. | |
| A businessman in Kathmandu told the BBC that 25 Maoists had forcibly entered his office compound, stuck posters of Prachanda all over the walls and threatened to bomb the building if he removed them. | A businessman in Kathmandu told the BBC that 25 Maoists had forcibly entered his office compound, stuck posters of Prachanda all over the walls and threatened to bomb the building if he removed them. |
| He said they had issued threats against him for not giving the Maoists money. | He said they had issued threats against him for not giving the Maoists money. |
| Maoist leaders insist that the frequent requests for donations to their party are voluntary. | Maoist leaders insist that the frequent requests for donations to their party are voluntary. |