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| Jubilation over Nepal peace pact | Jubilation over Nepal peace pact |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Jubilation across Nepal has marked the signing of a landmark peace agreement between the government and the country's Maoist rebels. | Jubilation across Nepal has marked the signing of a landmark peace agreement between the government and the country's Maoist rebels. |
| There have been spontaneous public celebrations and the local media have welcomed the deal. | There have been spontaneous public celebrations and the local media have welcomed the deal. |
| The accord, signed on Tuesday, formally ended a 10-year insurgency that killed 13,000 people. | The accord, signed on Tuesday, formally ended a 10-year insurgency that killed 13,000 people. |
| Under the deal, the rebels will join a transitional government and their weapons will be under UN monitoring. | Under the deal, the rebels will join a transitional government and their weapons will be under UN monitoring. |
| People lit peace candles in public places immediately after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the chairman of the Maoist communist party, Prachanda, signed the agreement late on Tuesday. | People lit peace candles in public places immediately after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the chairman of the Maoist communist party, Prachanda, signed the agreement late on Tuesday. |
| The government has declared a public holiday on Wednesday to mark the success of the peace process that had been in place since April. | The government has declared a public holiday on Wednesday to mark the success of the peace process that had been in place since April. |
| This moment marks the end of the 238-year-old feudal system Maoist leader Prachanda Viewpoints: Historic peace Should the king be punished? Nepali newspapers hailed the deal with banner headlines and front-page editorials. | This moment marks the end of the 238-year-old feudal system Maoist leader Prachanda Viewpoints: Historic peace Should the king be punished? Nepali newspapers hailed the deal with banner headlines and front-page editorials. |
| The Kathmandu Post said that the agreement heralded a new dawn of peace, progress and prosperity. | The Kathmandu Post said that the agreement heralded a new dawn of peace, progress and prosperity. |
| Neighbouring India and the United States, the United Nations have joined the chorus of welcome. | Neighbouring India and the United States, the United Nations have joined the chorus of welcome. |
| India's external affairs ministry spokesman said India hoped that the agreement would end the politics and culture of violence. | India's external affairs ministry spokesman said India hoped that the agreement would end the politics and culture of violence. |
| The US embassy in Kathmandu expressed the hope that the peace agreement would place Nepal on the path of lasting peace and democracy. | The US embassy in Kathmandu expressed the hope that the peace agreement would place Nepal on the path of lasting peace and democracy. |
| Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses in the conflict. | Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses in the conflict. |
| 'Historic' | 'Historic' |
| The country's multi-party government and the Maoist rebels have been observing a ceasefire for more than six months since they co-ordinated mass protests that forced King Gyanendra to restore parliament and end direct rule. | The country's multi-party government and the Maoist rebels have been observing a ceasefire for more than six months since they co-ordinated mass protests that forced King Gyanendra to restore parliament and end direct rule. |
| The Maoists are now due to move into parliament and government, abandoning their guerrilla status. | The Maoists are now due to move into parliament and government, abandoning their guerrilla status. |
| There were spontaneous celebrations in KathmanduThe BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says the agreement had been expected, but is nonetheless historic. | |
| It was made public at a large gathering of politicians, diplomats and civil society leaders in Kathmandu. | It was made public at a large gathering of politicians, diplomats and civil society leaders in Kathmandu. |
| "This moment marks the end of the 238-year-old feudal system," Maoist leader Prachanda declared. | "This moment marks the end of the 238-year-old feudal system," Maoist leader Prachanda declared. |
| "Our party will work with new responsibility and new vigour to make a new Nepal." | "Our party will work with new responsibility and new vigour to make a new Nepal." |
| Mr Koirala was equally ecstatic. "The agreement has ended the politics of killings, violence and terror and started the politics of cooperation," he said. | Mr Koirala was equally ecstatic. "The agreement has ended the politics of killings, violence and terror and started the politics of cooperation," he said. |
| "Now we need to meet together in cooperation and understanding to make sure this agreement is fully implemented," the 85-year-old prime minister said. | "Now we need to meet together in cooperation and understanding to make sure this agreement is fully implemented," the 85-year-old prime minister said. |
| The UN has welcomed the deal, describing it as "another key step forward in the peace process". | The UN has welcomed the deal, describing it as "another key step forward in the peace process". |