UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's serious expression of concern on Tuesday regarding the situation in Nepal ends with a reiteration of his offer to help find a solution. But he needs both the government and the Maoists to make that request for mediation.

Kofi Annan has echoed the sentiments of nearly all Nepalis: that there is no military solution to the conflict. He has urged the government and the Maoists to "end the fighting and resume the peace process with the participation of all political and civil forces in the country". We couldn't have put it better ourselves. The fact that political parties have wholeheartedly welcomed the move is also a positive sign.

Maoist leader Prachanda called on the UN to monitor human rights violations in the country. Earlier, he even expressed willingness to demobilise if there was an internationally-mediated peace process. The problem with these statements is that they are so inconsistent and PR-driven we never know if they are to be taken seriously. Besides, there is a widespread perception that previous ceasefires were used to prepare for escalation. The comrades have to admit that their lack of respect for human dignity, their brutal methods and disregard for public opinion haven't particularly endeared them to a majority of the people. They have to do much more to earn the trust of the people and potential mediators. The abduction of school pupils for use in human wave attacks makes a mockery of Maoist commitments, and even if Prachanda swears by the Geneva Convention what is the guarantee his warlords will?

Then on this side, there are military hawks who can't countenance any talk of negotiations, even while they grudgingly admit that there is no military solution. So, the slaughter gets worse, bad blood grows and the antagonism is harder to bridge. If efforts to negotiate are not initiated soon, we will see worse carnages than Bhojpurs and Benis in months ahead. Both sides have to assess how much longer they can, or want to, continue this nonstop nonsense.

Kofi Annan is a busy man, and has to deal with hot spots around the world clamouring for attention. The fact that he releases an appeal like this about Nepal means a lot. The government and the Maoists should grab this olive branch that gives them a good pretext to break the deadlock and begin genuine dialogue in search for meaningful compromise.

Outside powers, especially India, have leaned on the government to reject third party mediation, arguing that it would put a legitimate state side and an outlaw group on the same pedestal. But wouldn't internal mediation also have to do that?

Let's seize the opportunity offered by Kofi Annan and form a Multilateral Peace Commission to find a way out of this madness.