Maoist rebels call off Nepal strike

There is no indication of an end to the conflict

By Daniel Lak BBC correspondent in Kathmandu

Maoist rebels in Nepal have postponed a five-day general strike, called to demonstrate their strength and disrupt normal life, and the authorities' attempts to crush their six-year old insurgency.

Over 3,000 people have died in the violence

The strike was to have begun on Tuesday.

In a statement faxed to news organisations in Kathmandu the rebels say the strike is now rescheduled for three weeks later.

The protest action would have coincided with crucial graduation exams for more than 250,000 school leavers in Nepal, and there had been widespread pleas to call off the strike.

The parents' of graduating high school students will be pleased that their children can now sit their exams without the threat of Maoist violence.

Fear of reprisal

The exams for the school leavers' certificate, that allows Nepalese students to go on to higher education, begin this week.

The combatants seem determined to fight on

Earlier strikes called by the Maoists had been widely observed, as much for fear of violent reprisal as support for the rebel group.

Hundreds have died since the Maoists broke a four month cease fire last year, and returned to the battlefield.

In all, 3,000 people have been killed in more than six years of fighting by the Maoists, who want to replace Nepal's constitutional monarchy with a communist republic.

The rebellion is rooted in the deep political alienation and economic deprivation of the Nepalese countryside.

More fighting

But also the Maoists are showing increasing prowess at both propaganda and battle.

The emergency has disrupted normal life

They hardly seem poised to take over the country, and they have suffered heavy casualties in the past month.

But they do seem as much in control of events in their rural heartland as the authorities are in Kathmandu.

In postponing this strike Maoist leaders are saying they are willing to resume talks with the government.

But ministers and generals are known to favour more fighting until the rebels surrender.