Chief Maoist negotiator in the failed peace talks last year, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, spoke on camera to CNN from an unspecified hideout. Mahara flatly denies the Maoists are recruiting children and killing civilians, and tries to use the deadlock between the king and the political parties to his advantage. Highlights:

Are you terrorists:
"We are a political force and do not support terrorism. We condemn all types of terrorism. This is a people's movement, a people's war. It is a people's force. We are not terrorists and that is clear."

Why do you recruit children:
"We have no children in our fighting force. We do not admit anyone below 18 in our army. This is a baseless allegation."

Why do you kill civilians:
"The allegation of Maoists killing civilians is also false. In fact the government is responsible for all those killings."
Prospects for talks: "The reason the government is opposing talks is that it is preparing for a full-fledged war. If the government agrees to a political solution, we are even ready for a ceasefire."

Prospects for peace:
"The whole world is putting pressure for peace talks, and then an interim government. In such a situation, the king does not have any other possibility but to take these talks forward."