Prachanda says no preconditions are set for verification

Maoists chairman Prachanda on Thursday has opposed Ian Martin, chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) for saying that the Maoists have posed preconditions in second stage of registration and verification of Maoists combatants.

"We had discussed with him a few days ago but he has said a few things beyond our agreement," Prachanda told reporters after a programme where he launched a book by communist leader Shambhu Ram Shrestha.

He also said, "We have not put forward precondition [for verification], rather we have asked for sincere implementation of the past pacts and understanding reached with the government."

On Tuesday, Martin – who left the same day for New York to brief the Security Council – addressing a press meet had said that no precondition was acceptable to the UNMIN to start the second stage of verification of Maoist combatants.