KATHMANDU, Nov. 18 Kyodo The Unit...

KATHMANDU, Nov. 18 Kyodo

The United States onward Tuesday denounced the recent spate of killings in Nepal by means of Maoist rebels and urged the insurgents to revert to talks with the sway to end the insurgency.

''The U command denounces the killing of Brig. Gen Sagar Bahadur Pandey and his wife along with other security personnel'' the U Embassy said in a pres release.

Pandey along with three other army personnel were slain Saturday in a roadside bomb explosion at Bhimfedi in central Nepal.

Rebels of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) are blamed for the killings.

''The U continues to believe vehemently that this conflict can be settl solitary through peaceful means,'' the release said, adding, ''We push the Maoists to restore the cease-fire and take up again the negotiation process.''

There is overwhelming support within Nepal and the international community for a negotiated arrangement the release said.

The rebels waging an armed insurgency in Nepal have escalated attacks upon army and police positions since withdrawing from the cease-fire and peace talks last August.

The rebels have been fighting the Nepalese rule since 1996 in a bid to foil the monarchy and set up a republican state.

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