KATHMANDU: In the backdrop of the country’s recent political climate, UCPN-Maoist vice-chair Dr Baburam Bhattarai Wednesday warned that the prospect of another bloody civil war is not a mere illusion.

Referring to the recent controversial statements made by former king Gyanendra and aging leader, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the Maoist second-in-command said the recent activities of regressive elements have cast doubts on whether the decade-long insurgency has faded away for good.

Bhattarai warned those statements indicate that the country is headed for a fiery confrontation which he said would be between revolutionary and counter-revolutionary forces.

Speaking at a function in Kathmandu, the Maoist vice chairman stressed on the need to democratise the national army and integrate the PLA fighters hand in hand.

Bhattarai also said it is wrong to give full credit to the people’s movement for the current political change as doing so, he claimed, would do injustice to the contribution of the ‘people’s war.’