UN peace mission to Nepal extended to aid stability

24/07/2008 12:08:39

The United Nations Security Council has agreed to a request by Nepal to extend a peace mission by six months.

The UN was invited to assist in Nepal's peace process when a deal was signed between Maoist rebels and mainstream parties in 2006 to end a decade-long civil war.

The deal included the integration of more than 19,000 former Maoist rebels with the regular army, but differences still remain as to how this is to be achieved.

The UN secretary general's special envoy to Nepal, Ian Martin, told the security council last week that Nepalis agree that the peace process is not complete while there are two armies in the country.

Earlier Wednesday, the first president of newly republican Nepal was sworn into office, but the country remains in political limbo with the former Maoist rebels refusing to form a government under him.

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