The move comes as Annan's special representatives to the peace talks, Ian Martin, briefs the Security Council on the progress of negotiations between the government and the rebel Maoist movement, who signed a landmark peace accord ending a 10year conflict that cost the country over 14,000 lives.

Delays in the implementation of the military aspects of the accord may cause a further delay in setting up an all-party interim government, scheduled for 1 December, as the new government can only be set up following decommissioning of Maoist arms and confinement of the rebel army.

Already delays in the implementation of the peace are causing a rise in the political temperature, as Maoists forces are reported to be occupying and sharing villagers' houses until the infrastructure of their new camps are put in place.

During his briefings last week in New York, Ian Martin, warned the Security Council, that the UN needs to be seen to be lending operation support on the ground, and that recent developments in Nepal represent "an opportunity" to be grasped.

The Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), signed by the government and Maoists in November, puts in place a demanding path to peace that will see the insurgent Maoists movement, which controls large parts of the country outside the capital, Kathmandu, give up the war and join a new interim government.

The draft Security Council resolution sponsored by the British government will see an advanced deployment of 35 civilian monitors with a military background, or military personnel in civilian clothes, begin immediate monitoring of arms and special camps where Maoist forces are now gathering.

The mandate will also seek approval for the advance deployment of 25 electoral monitors to provide assistance to the Nepalese electoral authorities and parties, and a further deployment of a technical assessment team to advise on a full UN political mission in Nepal.

Earlier this week, a significant threshold was passed as the government, Maoists and UN signed a tripartite arms-management accord, setting out the exact terms of decommissioning and cantonment of the Maoist army.

Under the accord, the rebel arms will be locked up under UN supervision at special sites, but the rebels will keep the keys.

The People's Liberation Army, the military wing of the Maoist movement, is said to consist of between 15,000 and 20,000 men and women. However, the rebels claim its number is higher, at 35,000. These forces are presently gathering in seven designated camps and in a further 21 smaller satellite camps surrounding them, throughout the country.

However, in an effort to bolster numbers, widespread forced recruitment and abductions of schoolchildren by Maoists were reported in the run-up to the signing of the peace accord last month. The UN, which will monitor the military agreement, the forthcoming general election and human rights, has said it will demobilize soldiers under 18 years of age and anyone who joined a military force after May of this year.

The Nepali army will face similar restrictions under the agreement and will also face scrutiny by the UN and local monitoring.

In return for peace, the Maoists have been promised 73 seats in a 330 seat interim parliament and will take part in a new interim government until a general election, penned in for June, takes place.

The new constitution is presently being negotiated by the government and the Maoists and will, for the first time, emancipate a largely impoverished citizenry from the 270-year-old monarchy. Nepal's king in particular faces an uncertain future.

King Gyanendra was forced to recall parliament following widespread violent demonstrations against the his rule in April, effectively ending the Monarchy's grip on power.

The CPA calls for an end to his political role and regal property to be nationalised. In recent weeks, an official commission called for King Gyanendra to be punished for ordering a severe crackdown on demonstrators by security forces during April's protests.

However, many in the country view the king as a Hindu deity, who should at least maintain a ceremonial role. Such an outcome would not be acceptable to the Maoists who have said they will stay out of any new government if the king retains a ceremonial position in the new constitution.

The issue will be decided at the first meeting of the new parliament, following elections in June.

And then, the King's future may be referred back to the people through a referendum.