Nepal's Prime Minister, rebel chief begin talks

Kathmandu, Jun 16: Nepal's Maoist rebel chief Prachanda began talks with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today in a bid to iron out differences before holding landmark elections and drafting a new constitution.

The talks in Kathmandu between Koirala, who heads a multi-party, interim administration, and Prachanda was the first known high-level meeting between the rebels and the government since the revolt began 10 years ago.

''The main agenda for the meeting is to discuss early elections for the constituent assembly and solve the political hurdles for this,'' rebel spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara said.

REUTERS