Maoists end ceasefire; blasts reported

A series of bombs went off at three different places in Nepal Monday, hours after Maoist rebels ended a four-month unilateral cease-fire, local media said. There were no reports of any casualties.
Police and government officials could not immediately be reached to confirm reports of the blasts in the three locations west and south-west of the capital Kathmandu.
"Powerful explosions rocked Bhairahawa, Pokhara and Butwal Monday evening, however," private news website Kantipur online said.
"Reports from Butwal said Maoists exploded a bomb at the District Survey Office in Butwal Municipality Monday evening," the website said.
"A powerful bomb went off at Prithvi Chowk, at around 7:30 pm this evening," a local resident told AFP Monday evening by telephone. Pokhara is 225 kilometres (140 miles) west of the capital.
Detailed information on the blasts was still not available.
"The Maoists asked the employees to leave the building before exploding the bomb," the website said.
"A powerful bomb went off at the District Education Office in Bhairahawa Monday evening," private television channel Nepal One reported.
Bhairahawa is about 295 kilometres (185 miles) south-west of Kathmandu.
Nepal's Maoist rebels on Monday officially ended a four-month unilateral truce despite pleas from political parties and the United Nations, saying army attacks had forced them back on the offensive.
"The four-month cease-fire which we extended has come to an end," rebel leader Prachanda, or the Fierce One, said in a statement.
"We want to make it clear our future actions will be targeted against the autocratic regime. We are compelled to go on the offensive not only for the sake of peace and democracy but for the sake of self-defence."
King Gyanendra, who seized power 11 months ago, and the army declined to match the truce called initially for three months in early September and extended by a month in December. It ended at midnight.
More than 12,000 people have died in the so-called "people's war" waged since 1996 to establish a communist republic.