Nepal's former communist rebels agreed Dec. 23 to rejoin the government, officials said, signaling an end to a political crisis that led to the indefinite postponement of elections. The pact will also abolish Nepal's monarchy.

No date has been set for the ex-rebels, usually referred to as Maoists, to rejoin the government they left in September, demanding the immediate abolition of the monarchy and changes to the election system.

An agreement for them to rejoin has been signed, however, by leaders of the seven main political parties — including the Maoists — said Arjun Narsingh of Nepalese Congress, the Himalayan country's largest party.