Thousands hold Nepal peace rally

By Sushil Sharma
BBC News, Kathmandu

Nepal has seen many rallies and demonstrations in recent months

About 30,000 people have attended a peace rally in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, calling for an end to the long-running Maoist insurgency.

The rally, which coincided with international peace day, called for an immediate halt in hostilities.

The government has come under pressure at home and abroad to respond to a three-month ceasefire called by the Maoists this month.

The 10-year insurgency has left about 12,000 people dead.

Assembly

Students, journalists, lawyers, human rights activists, teachers and business leaders turned up in large numbers in Kathmandu.

Although the rally had been targeted at both the government and the Maoist rebels, the former is expected to feel the heat more.

The government is under pressure following the rebels' ceasefire.

It refused to reciprocate the truce, saying that the rebels could not be trusted - a reference to two occasions in the past when the rebels broke ceasefires after unilaterally pulling out of peace talks.

The rebels have been insisting on an interim government and a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution which they believe will clear way for replacing the monarchy with a republican regime.

Nepal has seen many protests in recent months, most of them aimed at King Gyanendra, who assumed direct power in February