>UN monitors in Nepal have postponed the second phase of verification of Maoist army personnel on the request of the former rebels in the wake of the killing of three of their cadres by armed groups.
The leadership of the CPN (Maoist) has asked the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) not to begin the second stage of arms registration due to the killing of their leader Dashrath Thakur, Binod Panta and Sheshmani Lamichanne on Wednesday, the mission said in a release in Kathmandu.
UNMIN has condemned the killings and called on authorities to make prompt efforts to bring those responsible to justice. UNMIN has already sent investigation teams to Rupandehi district.
The mission hoped the verification will begin in a few days.
The killing of cadres has triggered an angry outburst from the CPN-Maoist, who warned their combatants would take out arms stored in UN containers if the killing of their cadres continues.