Nepal's Maoist rebels announced a three-month cease-fire from Saturday, their chief said in a statement, in a move to win support of political parties opposed to King Gyanendra's seizure of power in February. "During this period, our People's Liberation Army (PLA) will be in defensive positions," Prachanda said in a statement made available to Reuters.
"The PLA will not launch any offensive from its side." "We believe our move will encourage all forces, within and outside Nepal, who want peace through a forward-moving political solution," the elusive Maoist chief said.
The Nepali Congress, the biggest party, welcomed the truce. "We take this very positively," Nepali Congress spokesman Arjun Narsingh K.C. told Reuters, adding he hoped it would help to establish a permanent peace.
Nepal's mainstream political parties said in July they would hold talks with the rebels to discuss joint protests against Gyanendra's power grab but added the rebels must stop the violence before the talks could take place.
On Saturday, more than 5,000 people attended a rally organised by the seven-party alliance in Kathmandu demanding the restoration of democracy.
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