| NEWS |
Posted
on 11-Sep-01 10:30 AM
KATHMANDU, Sept. 10 — Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba urged Maoist rebels on Monday to stop their fight against the Himalayan state's constitutional monarchy and come to a new round of peace talks with the government.
''I appeal to the Maoists to stop acts of terrorism and violence and make a congenial environment for successful talks with the government,'' Deuba was quoted by state radio as saying on Monday.
He said the government was committed to the success of the peace process. ''The rebels must come to the negotiating table soon, he added.
The government accuses the rebels of extortion, intimidation and displaying weapons at public meetings to scare people despite making assurances to the contrary during the first round of peace talks in August.
New talks are scheduled this week but no date has been agreed yet.
Last week mainstream political parties urged the government and the rebels to agree an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict that has cost more than 1,800 lives since it began in February 1996.
Officials said the rebels had stopped killing policemen after agreeing to a truce with the government in July, but continued to scare people with other activities that could derail the peace process.
Officials, fearing violence, have also called on the Maoists to cancel plans for a public rally on September 21 in the Nepali capital, which has so far been spared major rebel activities. The rebels expect about 200,000 people to attend the rally.
The Maoists model themselves on Peru's Shining Path guerrillas and have demanded an interim government, a new constitution and a communist republic in the world's only Hindu kingdom.
The government says it is ready to discuss rebel demands for social changes and economic development in a country where feudal practices are still deep rooted, but has stated that the constitutional monarchy is not negotiable.
(Kathmandu newsroom Tel + 977 1 372152 Fax + 977 1 373814)
Copyright 2001 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters
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| NEWS |
Posted
on 11-Sep-01 10:33 AM
Tuesday, 11 September, 2001, 14:16 GMT 15:16 UK
US rocked by plane attacks
One of the towers has collapsed
Two planes have crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City while another - reportedly a Boeing airliner - has smashed into the Pentagon in Washington DC.
One of the towers of the World Trade Centre - one of the world's tallest buildings - has subsequently collapsed and the Pentagon is ablaze.
The White House, the Capitol and the Pentagon - the heart of the US military machine - are all reportedly being evacuated.
The Pentagon is the heart of America's defence machine
An early report said six people had been killed in the World Trade Center attack while hundreds were injured, but there are fears that the death toll could be far higher.
President George W Bush, speaking in Florida, described the World Trade Center incident "an apparent terrorist attack".
He said: "We will find those who committed this attack."
All flights within the US have been grounded.
New York police have been quoted as saying that both planes involved in the World Trade Center attack were hijacked from Boston.
A few minutes after the first tower was hit by a passenger plane, a second, similar plane was seen flying into the second tower. A huge explosion was seen.
Smoke from the World Trade Center could be seen for miles
Eyewitnesses say the first plane crashed into one of the towers after flying unusually low over Manhattan Island.
Briton James Winter, 30, living in an apartment close to the centre, said he was woken a huge bang at around 0800 local time.
"I was in bed and there was a huge explosion. The whole building rattled and shook," he said.
"I ran to the window and there was smoke billowing from the south side of one of the towers. Everyone in my building was panicking and running around."
About 40,000 people work inside the two-building centre, and more than 150,000 people enter the complex every day.
On 26 February, 1993, a terrorist bomb exploded in building number one's lower level.
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