[JURIST] Leaders of Nepal's Maoist rebel insurgency [BBC backgrounder] on Sunday called for an interim constitution to be enacted before a special assembly gathers to draft a new charter. The Maoists and a seven-party alliance of opposition political parties joined forces in a number of pro-democracy protests [JURIST news archive] last month which led to King Gyanedra [official profile] reinstating parliament [JURIST report] at the end of April. The new parliament has voted to hold elections for a constituent assembly [JURIST report] to re-write the current constitution [text], but the Maoists are calling for an interim government and interim constitution in the meantime.

The rebellion was in response to King Gyanedra's seizure of the government and dismissal of elected officials [JURIST report] in February 2005, which he said was in response to 13,000 deaths caused by the Maoist insurgency. The rebels have recently agreed to the new cabinet's call for peace talks. A cease-fire has been in effect since the reinstatement of democracy and the government agreed to drop terrorism charges against rebel leaders. AP has more.