Hundreds of former Maoist soldiers in Nepal have begun leaving camps for ex-rebels, where they have been held since a 2006 peace accord, to join the country's national army or begin new lives.<br /><br />The historic transition, part of a government plan of integration, follows a breakthrough peace deal signed on November 1 by the Maoists and the three other major political parties.<br /><br />Under the deal, some 6,500 out of 19,000 former Maoist rebels will be integrated into the army while the remainder choose between retirement payoffs of $6300-$10,200 and a rehabilitation package that includes vocational training.<br /><br />In total, almost 20,000 former Maoist rebels have been living in seven main camps in Nepal. They have been there since their 10-year uprising against the government ended in a ceasefire in 2006.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Devin Greenleaf has more on this report.
