Nepal Maoists deny "child soldier" allegations

Maoist rebels in Nepal have denied allegations from the government and human rights groups that they recruit child soldiers.

The leader of the underground Maoist Communist Party, known as Prachanda, said the group had a policy of dissuading children from joining their ranks.

The government has accused the rebels of abducting children and forcing them into their armed movement.

And earlier this month, Amnesty International urged the Maoists to return at least thirty children they said had been abducted.

In a statement, Mr Prachanda denied the charges, and accused the government of waging a propaganda war. International agencies have accused both the government and the rebels of human rights violations since the Maoists began their insurgency four years ago.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service