Koirala asks Maoists to abide by peace accord

The prime minister has asked the Maoist rebels to respect the pact and help create a climate without fear in the Himalayan nation.

A day after signing a new historic pact with the Maoists, Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Thursday asked the rebels to respect the agreement and help create a "climate without fear" in the Himalayan nation.

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In his brief address to parliament, Koirala said despite his deteriorating health, he took a political gamble to bring the Maoists into the political mainstream.

"I urge the Maoists to respect the letter and spirit of the agreement. I urge the Maoists to create a climate without fear," he said

The Maoists "should become responsible towards the nation and abided by all the agreements they signed with the government in the past".

"If the Maoists come in a responsible way and help in implementing all the agreements they signed with the government, they can also contribute to the nation building tasks," he said.

"We have signed a historic deal to restore permanent peace and now it is time to move ahead to make this country prosperous and developed," he said.

Koirala warned against possible conspiracies by reactionary forces against democratic achievements.

The premier stressed that an atmosphere free of fear and terror must be created for holding the constituent assembly elections in a free, fair and impartial manner.

On the occasion, Speaker of the House of Representatives Subhash Nemwang read out the Government-Maoist accord to parliament members.