Violence on rise in Nepal, UN warns

UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned yesterday that violence is on the rise in Nepal and called on political parties to push on a peace process stalled after key elections were cancelled.
"The peace process in Nepal is facing its most difficult challenges to date," said Ban in a statement from his office.
"The shortcomings and enduring strengths of the comprehensive peace agreement need to be assessed," the secretary general said.
Ban called for the squabbling parties to "take a hard look at their differences and the underlying weaknesses of the peace process."
"The overall situation has grown more worrying with increasing violence and instability in parts of the country.
"The police have mostly been unable to protect the civilian population and curtail the activities of the groups," he said.
Voters were to elect representatives on November 22 to rewrite Nepal's constitution and decide the fate of its embattled monarchy, following a landmark peace deal last year.