U.N. envoy in Nepal to seek release of child soldiers

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - A top U.N. envoy has arrived in Nepal on a visit during which she is expected to press the Himalayan nation's Maoist-led government to free thousands of former child soldiers still living in camps.

U.N. estimates last year said nearly three thousand children were living in camps housing former Maoist fighters under a 2006 peace deal that ended a bloody civil war which caused more than 13,000 deaths.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, special representative of the U.N. Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, during her week-long visit started Monday, would determine the impact of the conflict on children, the U.N. said in a statement late Monday.

"She will pay particular attention to the issue of the release and the reintegration of former child soldiers as well as the current use of children by armed groups and their participation in political violence," it said.

She will "advocate for the immediate release of the 2,973 Maoist army elements disqualified as minors remaining in Maoist cantonments."

The Maoists deny using child soldiers but admit employing children for support services in the decade-long conflict which ended two years ago.

The Maoists are now heading a coalition government after a surprise victory in the election for a special assembly held in April.

(Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Matthias Williams and Sanjeev Miglani)