Chief of the United Nations Human Rights Office in Nepal Ian Martin Saturday called on the government to declare ceasefire and stop the military action.

"It is equally important that the government reciprocate the ceasefire and at the very least the security forces are not continuing violations of human rights and humanitarian law in the period ahead," said Martin at a program here.

Saying that the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed the guerrillas' truce, he suggested the government to follow the path of peace.

He, however, expressed his grievances over the continuation of abduction from the guerrillas and military action by the security forces.

The anti-government guerrillas of Nepal announced Friday that the unilateral cease-fire would be extended by another one month.

The guerrillas announced a three-month-long unilateral cease-fire on Sept. 3 "keeping in view of Nepali people's desire for peace," which came to an end on Friday.

Over 12,000 Nepalese people have been killed since the anti-government insurgency broke out in the Himalayan kingdom in February 1996.

Source: Xinhua