Nepal peace at risk from violence in south

A decade of civil war came to an end when anti-monarchistMaoist rebels agreed a peace deal with Nepal's government in2006. National elections are scheduled to be held on April 10as part of that deal.

But since then, groups in the Terai plains in the country'ssouth that are home to half the population are increasinglycomplaining that they are being overlooked by the government.

The region has been hit by protests, blockades and violentclashes with police as the groups demand greater autonomy forthe Terai and its ethnic Madheshi people, who have closercultural ties with northern India than with Nepal's hillpeople.

"The violence and the unsatisfied political demands arerisking the achievements Nepal has made towards peace," theheads of missions of the European Union in Nepal said in astatement late on Thursday.

They said the government and all the political parties must"work quickly to secure an agreement that allows representativeelections to go forward".

At least two people were killed and hundreds injured inclashes with police since last week in the strike that closedroads, factories, schools and shops in the Terai and hinderedsupplies of fuel travelling from India to the hills.

Similar protests last year claimed at least 45 lives in theregion.

"Nepal and Nepalis have been deeply hurt by the blockadesin the Terai and the accompanying violence," the Europeanambassadors said.

They said diplomatic and U.N. vehicles had been caught upin some of the violence both in the Terai and in other areas.

"We call on the government, particularly in the run-up toelections, to do everything possible to ensure the safety ofboth Nepalis and international personnel," they said

The government and the Madheshi groups are talking abouthow to end the crisis but have not reached a deal yet, bothsides said.

(Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Jonathan Allen andAlex Richardson)