A group of leading editors in Nepal have accused Maoists, who are now part of the interim government, of attacking press freedom through a "sinister pattern of intimidation and threats". Ten editors of leading newspapers, magazines and a television station said that Maoist unions, demanding better conditions for workers, had even entered newspaper offices to physically threaten journalists. Their statement, issued late on Wednesday, comes days after a Maoist-affiliated labour union obstructed the publication and distribution of the Himalayan Times and the Annapurna Post, leading dailies published in the capital Kathmandu. "We didn't have such a serious attack on press freedom even during the direct censorship of media after the king's coup in Feb. 2005," the statement said. "We ask that the Maoist leadership ... honour its stated commitment to protect press freedom and not to incite attacks on the media," the editors said. The Maoist labour groups, which have also disrupted the production of other newspapers and a radio station in recent weeks, say they want better pay and service conditions for their workers in the media.