US official to begin Nepal visit

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A senior US official is to visit Nepal in the first such trip by a foreign dignitary since last week's peace deal between Nepal's government and rebels.

Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher will hold talks with senior Nepalese officials and political leaders during his three-day visit.

The rebels signed a peace deal with the government last Tuesday to restore peace to the Himalayan kingdom.

The agreement will see the Maoists join an interim government within a month.

The US has cautiously welcomed the deal, saying that much will depend on its implementation.

Washington has been apprehensive about the intention of the Maoist rebels, who are still on the US government's "terrorist list".

The rebels had in the past accused the US of trying to derail the peace process.

Nepal's rebel leader, Prachanda, has said the Maoists will use politics, not violence, to "meet the aspirations of the people's longing for peace".

Over 13,000 people have died in the decade-long insurgency in the country.