KATHMANDU (AFP) - Nepal's new prime minister appealed on Tuesday for the Maoist party to join his government, saying the former rebels' participation was needed to protect the country's peace process.

Madhav Kumar Nepal was sworn in on Monday after three weeks of political deadlock triggered by the shock resignation of Maoist premier Prachanda only eight months after taking office.

Prachanda stepped down over a dispute with the national army, which he and his fellow guerrillas had fought against in a bloody civil war that ended in 2006.

"This is not the time to stop the path of consensus, reconciliation and unity," the new prime minister said. "I appeal to the Maoists to join the present government and help in taking the peace process forward."

Prachanda came to power in elections last year, but quit after a failed bid to sack the head of the army, General Rookmangud Katawal.

The Maoists have insisted that 19,000 of their former fighters be integrated into the ranks but the army has refused, saying the men can never become non-partisan soldiers.