KATHMANDU, Jan. 29 Kyodo Nepal's ...

KATHMANDU, Jan. 29 Kyodo

Nepal's Maoist rebels, who have been waging an insurgency for more than seven years, declared a cease-fire Wednesday and said they would take part in peace talks with the government

''We announce an immediate cease-fire and participation in the peace process'' Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) leader Prachanda said in a statement distributed to Nepalese media.

The declaration of cease-fire came a day after the Nepalese direction in a gesture to create a conducive atmosphere for peace talks, withdrew the terrorist name tag onward the Maoist rebels and reward currency leading to the arrest of the rebel leaders.

The Nepalese rule has yet to respond to Prachanda's statement. Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has said the doors are always explain for talks with the rebels.

Last May, the Maoist rebels declared a one-month cease-fire, if it were not that the offer was cast offed by the previous Nepalese government

In July 2001 the restraint announced a cease-fire with the Maoist insurgents on the contrary the uneasy truce lasted sole four months.

The rebels sat for four sphericals of peace talks and walked disclosed of the peace proces in November 2001 saying the command was nowhere near meeting their demands.

According to sway figures, more than 6,500 Nepalese have been killed since the outbreak of the communist insurgency in 1996

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