Nepal Maoists to lock up weapons

Nepal's Maoists are set to start locking up their weapons in designated camps around the country under a UN sponsored agreement.

It is one of the key steps in a peace process which began last year after a decade of civil war. Nepal's army is due to lock up a similar quantity of weapons on when the process starts on Wednesday. It comes after Maoists joined other parties in parliament in taking an oath under an interim constitution.

The insurgency that has cost some 13,000 lives. The temporary constitution formally transfers powers to the prime minister. The Maoists took their seats in an interim parliament on Monday.

The United Nations has played a critical part in brokering the peace deal. On Wednesday UN officials are to start monitoring the confinement of the Maoists' weapons and the registering of their fighters. The first weapons are to be locked away in the famous Chitwan Wildlife Park.

The UN monitoring team - led by a retired Norwegian general - expected to move quickly on to other camps. By next week, arms storage should be under way in seven out of 22 specially built camps for the Maoists. The former rebels have pledged to stay in the camps until elections due by June. Steps to peace

Nine months ago the Maoists were still an outlawed group but they will now have a share of power in the Himalayan kingdom. Under the interim constitution, they have about a quarter of parliament's 330 seats for their members. These include a large number of women and members of marginalised social groups.

Joining the new interim government, probably in February, will be the Maoists' next step. This is expected to last till elections in June when a constituent assembly will decide whether to scrap the monarchy or not.

King Gyanendra was forced to give up direct rule last year after mass protests. He has since been stripped of all powers and does not have even a ceremonial role in the interim constitution.

BBC