The anti-government guerrillas of Nepal on Wednesday called off a week-long general strike across the country announced by them for Feb. 5-11, Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda and Babu Ram Bhattarai, top leaders of the guerrillas said here in a press statement.

"We withdrew the general strike respecting the requests of seven political parties, different organizations and people of different walks of life," the statement said.

However, the stop of strike will be effective from Thursday, after four days of the strike.

The guerrillas announced the strike to disrupt the municipal polls which concluded Wednesday.

The guerrillas, in the statement, have described the municipal poll as a total failure.

The normal life across the country was affected adversely because of the strike, which had been facing widespread criticism from all walks of life.

Guerrillas also appealed to the seven agitating political parties,civil societies and intellectuals for initiate dialogue to find out the outlet of the present crisis through the election of the constituent assembly.

Prachanda, in his interview on Tuesday with private local daily Kantipur, said his party was ready to hold talks with the government led by King Gyanendra, if it announces cease-fire "with good intention of resolving the crisis."

Prachanda also said they will accept the monarchy if the country's people were in favor of retaining it.

Source: Xinhua