"The government is lingering. We cannot continue to remain in limbo like this," rebel spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara told Reuters after a central committee meeting of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

The Maoists have fought since 1996 to topple the monarchy and establish a communist state, a conflict in which more than 13,000 people have died.

However, violent street protests in April organised by seven political parties and backed by the Maoists forced King Gyanendra to end his absolute rule and restore democracy.

In June, the Maoists agreed a power-sharing deal with the government to form an interim legislature to replace the existing parliament, which does not include the rebels.