The London-based organisation, Amnesty International, says the deteriorating human rights situation in Nepal is threatening the stability and development of the country.

In its latest report, Amnesty charges both left-wing rebels and the government with abuses during the insurgency begun by the Maoist Communist Party three years ago, in which at least six-hundred-and-fifty people have died.

Amnesty said it had received reports of extra-judicial executions, torture and arbitrary arrests by the security forces, and accused rebel forces of kidnapping and torturing unarmed civilians, including members of mainstream political parties.

It deplored the intensification of rebel attacks ahead of the general election in May, and the harsher security measures introduced in response by the authorities. The government has dismissed the report as propaganda.