The Nepali government and the guerrillas have submitted a 5-point joint letter to the United Nations (UN) requesting the world body to assist in the ongoing peace process in the country.

The joint letter was submitted to the head of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nepal, Abraham Abraham, at the Peace Secretariat in Kathmandu Wednesday afternoon.

In the joint letter, the government and the guerrillas requested the UN to continue human rights monitoring and assist in the monitoring of the 25-point cease-fire code of conduct.

Similarly, the two sides agreed to seek UN assistance in the management of arms and armed personnel of both sides, deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and verify the confinement of the guerrilla combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas.

The two sides also agreed to work out the modalities for all arrangements, including arms and ammunitions, among themselves and the UN.

In the letter, the two sides also expressed agreement to monitor the Nepal army to ensure that it remains in its barracks and its weapons are not used for or against any side. The modalities will be worked out among the parties and the UN.

Similarly, the two sides agreed for UN observation during the Constituent Assembly elections in consultation with the parties.

Speaking to journalists after publicizing the letter, Home Minister and coordinator of the government talks team Krishna Prasad Sitaula said, after Wednesday's talks, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and guerrilla top leader Prachanda signed an agreement to establish lasting peace in the country.

"We hope the next UN team will arrive soon and it will provide the needed assistance," he said.

Sitaula also expressed hope that "the peace process will now move ahead smoothly."

"We believe we will be successful in holding the Constituent Assembly elections in a free and fair manner," he said.

Coordinator of the guerrilla talks team Krishna Bahadur Mahara said, "All the confusions have been cleared today. We have agreed upon an issue that holds a long-term impact. The 12-point agreement was a milestone, the 8-point agreement was the second historic step and today's 5-point joint letter is third historic step in the peace process."

Reading out a message sent by Prachanda, Mahara said, "Today onwards a new process has begun and doors have opened for new agendas of the peace process. We believe the peace process would move ahead smoothly."

The letter was finalized and signed by Koirala and Prachanda in a meeting held in Kathmandu Wednesday afternoon.

The sending of the joint letter to the world body was delayed because of some differences between the government and the guerrillas on the issue of arms management.

Wednesday is the last day to submit the letter to the UN. The High Level UN team led by Steffan de Mistura that was in Nepal on a "study visit" last week had extended the "deadline" for submitting the letter to the UN till Wednesday as the two sides were unable to reach a consensus during its visit.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2006)