Envoys 'concerned' over Nepal's peace process

International envoys to Nepal said Friday they are "increasingly concerned" by the slow progress in the country's peace process, three years after the end of a bloody, decade-long civil war.

The conflict between Maoist rebels and the state ended on November 20, 2006 with a peace agreement that was followed last year by a general election in which the former guerrillas won the highest number of seats.

But the Maoist-led government fell in May after the president overruled their attempt to sack the head of the army, and since then the peace process has ground to a virtual halt.

- We are increasingly concerned that progress on implementing the agreements has stalled - said a joint statement from 13 mainly Western nations, including the US and Japan, as well as the European Commission.

- On this anniversary, we urge Nepal's political parties to translate their public commitments into concrete actions to implement the peace agreements. -

The statement pointed out that lawmakers are well behind schedule in drafting the country's new constitution, which must be completed by May 28 when the interim charter expires.

The rehabilitation and integration into the army of Maoist former guerrillas is still not under way and there has been no progress in bringing justice to the victims of the conflict, the envoys noted.

The statement came as a deadline set by the Maoists for the government to agree to their demands expired Friday with no sign of a resolution.

Thousands of Maoist activists took to the streets of Kathmandu earlier this month calling for an apology and a parliamentary debate over the extent of the president's powers.

The Maoist party had said it would launch fresh protests if the demands were not met by Friday but sources said it was likely to extend the deadline by a few days to allow more time for talks.

The statement was issued jointly by the United States, Britain, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland and the European Commission.