Maoist rebels in Nepal will not lay down arms until elections are held for a body which will draw up a new constitution.

Nepal's home minister earlier said the government would not share power with the rebels until they had given up their weapons.

Both sides clinched a landmark power-sharing deal recently.

As part of the agreement, the government said it would dissolve parliament and set up an interim government that would include the Maoists.

The government and the rebels began peace talks last month on resolving the decade-long Maoist insurgency that has left 13,000 people dead.

The interim government containing the Maoists will be formed only after the management of the rebels' arms

There are concerns over the move to bring the rebels into an interim administration, the BBC said in a report.

It was these concerns that led to Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula issuing a statement on the issue of disarmament.

"The formation of the interim government is not possible without settling the Maoists' arms issues," Sitaula said in a report by BBC.

"The interim government containing the Maoist will be formed only after the management of the rebels' arms," the minister said.

Both sides have agreed to seek the assistance of the United Nations on the issue.

Popular protests forced King Gyanendra to give up his direct rule

The peace process began after King Gyanendra agreed in April to abandon direct palace rule following weeks of street protests and strikes.

The king's opponents - who had been speaking to Maoist leader Prachanda while out of power - have since formed a transitional government.

The new government has released rebels from jail, dropped terrorism charges against them and agreed to the ceasefire.