Nepal's rebel Maoists reacted angrily yesterday to an announcement that the new government has formally asked the UN for assistance with arms management during the fledgling peace process.

"We strongly disagree with the government sending the letter to the United Nations without consulting us first," said Dinanath Sharma, a rebel leader and member of the three-person Maoist preliminary talks team.

The rebels had earlier agreed that the United Nations could be invited to supervise arms management issues involving the Nepal

Army and the Maoist People's Liberation Army.

Their objections, said Sharma, were related to the fact they were not shown the letter addressed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan from Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala before it was sent Monday.

Though the letter has not been made public, Deputy Prime Minister Khadag Prasad Oli said it had formally requested the UN's help "in managing the arms of the rebels and the government troops."

"The government should have informed us before sending the letter," said Sharma.

The government rejected the criticism saying that the rebels had

already agreed to invite the UN to undertake arms management in the conflict.

"It is not a logical argument on part of the Maoists to claim that they have not been shown the letter before sending as it was the outcome of consultations as per the understanding reached with them," Khadag Prasad Oli, deputy prime minister and foreign minister told AFP.

The rebels and new government have been observing a ceasefire for over two months, after King Gyanendra was forced to end a 14-month period of direct rule in the troubled nation.