Fears of fresh violence as Nepal truce nears end

A NEW year dawned in revolt-torn Nepal yesterday amid growing fears of fresh violence as the Maoist rebels’ unilateral truce neared its end.

The rebel ceasefire, first announced for three months in September and later extended for another month under popular pressure, is due to expire at midnight tonight.

King Gyanendra, who seized absolute power 11 months ago, has refused to match the truce while the guerrillas have accused his royalist government of provoking them to break it.