760 guerrillas surrendered in mid-western Nepal

A total of 760 anti-government guerrillas have surrendered before local government at a mid- western district of Nepal since last week, the government office said in Kathmandu Monday.

The Nepali government announced last week it was ready to give a general amnesty to the guerrillas if they surrender to the government with or without arms by Jan. 13 next year.

"A total of 760 guerrillas have surrendered at Dailekh District Administration Office (DDAO), some 700 km west of Kathmandu, following the announcement of the government," the DDAO said in a press statement.

"The surrendering guerrillas will be kept under surveillance along with security in order to transform their nature for some time and after that they will be released, while those feeling insecure would be reallocated at a rehabilitation center, for their safety," the statement said.

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

Source: Xinhua