Q&A: Nepal's future
Nepal's Maoist rebels have reached a breakthrough agreement with the civilian government on ending the country's long civil war.
The agreement will see the rebels join a transitional government, while their arms will be put under UN supervision.
Why have the rebels suspended their armed struggle?
The Maoists called a ceasefire after King Gyanendra ended his controversial direct rule in April and restored parliament.
The king backed down after weeks of strikes and protests against his rule which saw huge demonstrations against him.
Political parties who were then in opposition, and are now in government, had promised to work with the Maoists as a prelude to bringing them into government.
What were the main issues for negotiation?
The parties and the Maoists had to draw up plans for elections to a constituent assembly they agreed to last year that will decide the country's future.
Key issues were:
How those elections and the constituent assembly would be organised
How power would be shared in the interim government when the constituent assembly is in place
Weapons decommissioning.
In theory, the issue of the monarchy has been resolved. Although the Maoists declared aim is for a communist republic, they say they will respect whatever the constituent assembly decides about the future of the monarchy.
Why did the king back down and agree to reconvene parliament?
The short answer is the sheer size of the demonstrations against him - some of the biggest that the country has ever witnessed.
Faced with this vast display of people power, analysts say that the king had no choice but to back down or the country would have descended into anarchy.
Observers say with international pressure mounting on him and the mood among his opponents at home hardening, particularly after the deaths of a number of protesters at the hands of the security forces, the king had few other options.
The current parliament has now effectively reduced the monarchy to a ceremonial role. It has also ended Nepal's status as a Hindu state and turned it into a secular state.
Why did the king seize power in February, 2005?
He accused Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's government of failing to win the support of the Maoist rebels for a deadline for peace talks and of failing to prepare the ground for elections in the spring of 2005.
However, analysts suggest the king might have been using these issues to strengthen his own role in Nepalese politics, perhaps seeking to create an absolute monarchy.
Whatever his intentions, his plans backfired and he finds himself in a much weaker position now, having in effect catalysed his opponents and the rebels into forging peace.
How strong are the rebels?
The Maoists are virtually in control of most of rural Nepal, although the authorities dispute this. Rebel fighters melt away into the hills when troops arrive in force.
They have frequently enforced blockades of major towns and cities through fear of reprisals, showing they have the power to paralyse the economy.
Senior military officers say there are between 10,000 and 15,000 well-trained rebel fighters, known as the movement's "hard core". It is estimated that there could be up to 50,000 so called "militia" who fight alongside them.
The Maoists claim to be inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong and want to establish a communist state.
Their shadowy leader's name, Prachanda, is translated as "the fierce one". The group is modelled on Peru's Maoist Shining Path guerrillas.
The army is better equipped, but mountainous terrain and popular support in some areas favours the rebels.
Analysts say that, as the war has progressed, it has become increasingly clear that neither side has the military muscle to win decisively.
What's the human cost of the conflict?
More than 13,000 people have been killed in violence in Nepal since the insurgency began 10 years ago, many of them civilians caught in cross-fire with security forces.
Both sides in the conflict are frequently accused of carrying out human rights abuses. (Story from BBC NEWS)
