United Nations, April 6 (PTI): Expressing concern over the Nepal Government's ban on protests in the country, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said that security considerations should not be the basis for denying citizens the right to peaceful protest. Over 200 persons had been arrested for participating in rallies and night curfew enforced in Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts yesterday. The ban was imposed on the eve of demonstrations against King Gyanendra's rule by the seven-party political alliance. In a statement on Wednesday, Annan said he is troubled by the developing confrontation and the large number of arrests of the government's opponents, noting that virtually all avenues for peaceful protests "seem" to be closing. Referring to Communist Party of Nepal's (Maoist) recent announcement that it has suspended military activity in Kathmandu valley, Annan urged the Maoists to take further steps to fulfill the commitments they had made publicly. He also appealed to all sides in Nepal to work towards ending the conflict through a reciprocal ceasefire agreement