Nepal's Maoists and the government said on Wednesday they had resolved differences over managing their weapons, paving the way for the eventual inclusion of the insurgents in an interim administration. The announcement came after Maoist chief Prachanda and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala held talks to end a row over the issue.
The dispute had begun to strain ties between the two sides and hurt their three-month-old peace process. A joint statement by the two sides said that the rebels and their arms would be confined to one set of camps while government troops would be stationed in their barracks. The United Nations would be requested to monitor both, it added.
"This is a tangible decision to take the peace process forward," Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, who is also the chief government negotiator at peace talks with the rebels, told a news conference. "It is a significant event in the peace process. We have been able to respond to the aspirations of people for peace and prosperity," he said.
The breakthrough came days after the rebels warned that the peace process was on the verge of collapse due to differences over the issue of managing arms and the future of the monarchy.
Now, the agreement over monitoring the two armies had reduced the mistrust between the two sides, said chief Maoist negotiator Krishna Bahadur Mahara. "This is not a matter of victory or defeat for one side or the other. This is a victory for the people," Mahara told the news conference.
UN ROLE: The two sides had agreed to request the UN to "deploy qualified civilian personnel and monitor" both armies and their arms, the joint statement said.
The UN should also continue to monitor the human rights situation and provide election observers for the planned vote to the constituent assembly, expected next year, it said.
A team of UN officials visited Nepal last week and is due to present a report this week to Secretary-General Kofi Annan on how the global body can help the peace process.
Hours earlier, the head of a panel appointed by the two sides said the group had finalised a draft for a temporary constitution, a key first step towards the formation of a new interim government that will include the rebels.