Maoists held Briton 'for publicity'

The British army officer held for two days by Nepal's Maoists says the rebels told him they abducted him to achieve publicity.

Lieutenant-Colonel Adrian Griffith, who was released unharmed on Tuesday, quoted the rebels as saying: "We get good publicity in the outside world by kidnapping an important person like you."

His release coincided with an announcement by the Maoists that they were changing their strategy.

Rebel leader Prachanda said they would now target US-backed organisations and halt attacks on government infrastructure.

Colonel Griffith, chief of staff of British Gurkha headquarters in Kathmandu, said he had been well treated during his "sojourn in the Maoist camp".

He was flown back to Kathmandu by helicopter from the town of Pokhara on Tuesday after being released with six Nepalese army officers who were also held.

The seven were taken at Lekhari, in Baglung district, 290 kilometres (180 miles) west of Kathmandu on Sunday.

Colonel Griffith was on a mission to recruit Gurkha soldiers.

Nepalese authorities described the incident as a kidnapping but rebel sources earlier denied this.

The incident was witnessed by a BBC film crew working on a new documentary with television star Michael Palin, who said it made them all feel very uncomfortable.

Shift in strategy

Maoist sources told the AFP news agency they released the men after demanding they should not recruit any youths for the Gurkhas from Baglung district.

Gurkha recruitment in Baglung district was a concern of the Maoists

Prachanda. whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal, said after the release that the Maoists would not allow organisations funded by "American imperialists" to operate in the country.

He signalled a shift away from attacks on government buildings, telecommunications and other infrastructural works.

Prachanda said Nepalese police would be given a chance to leave the force rather than be killed.

Aid groups not funded by the US would be allowed to work in villages after consultations with the rebels, he said.

An unspecified "tax" on businesses would replace extortion.

Around 500 people have died in fighting since the rebels pulled out of peace talks in August.

The Maoists accuse Washington of supplying the government with millions of dollars of military and development aid.

More than 7,500 people have been killed in the eight-year insurgency.

A senior United Nations official has now arrived in Nepal to discuss the political crisis caused by the insurgency, says the BBC's Sushil Sharma in Kathmandu.

Special adviser in the UN political affairs department, Tamrat Samuel, will meet senior government officials, leaders of major political parties, human rights activists and diplomats based in the capital.