December 6, 2001	Thursday	Ramazan 20, 1422

KATHMANDU, Dec 5: Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has ruled out the use of foreign troops to help put down a growing Maoist rebellion, while favouring the swift import of fresh weapons to strengthen the military, press reports said on Wednesday.

“There will be no foreign troops here at all,” Deuba was quoted as saying by the English-language Kathmandu Post.

“We don’t need them because our army is capable of dealing with the situation,” Deuba said, while adding that his government would be looking to boost military strength through fresh arms imports.

“The only criteria is that such weapons be available quickly and cheaply and in this context, we could import arms and ammunitions from India,” he said.

The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) was deployed for the first time against the Maoist rebels after they broke a four-month ceasefire on November 24 by launching a string of attacks on the army and police.

Officials have said more than 430 people, most of them rebels, have since been killed.

“The RNA has been given the mandate to disarm and defeat the terrorists,” Deuba said, adding that talks with the Maoist leaders were out of the question.

“How can there be negotiations with those who deceive you? No, there will not be any peace negotiations now. I am clear about this. They must first lay down their arms and surrender, then we can think of other things,” he added.

Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khada said late last month Nepal had asked India to supply helicopters and arms to help put down the rebellion.

India said it would provide “whatever assistance is required” by Nepal, but stopped short of specifying whether it might send troops. More than 2,100 people have been killed since the Maoists began their “people’s war” in 1996.—AFP