Centre, PCG 3rd round talks fails, ceasefire expires at midnight

New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) The third round of negotiations with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) failed to bring any outcome though the ceasefire date is due to expire at midnight.

ULFA sources said the talks will continue tomorrow but there is less possibility of any outcome as the government is not ready to relax from its rigid stand.

Earlier the Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) interlocutor Indira Goswami said they are not hopeful of any outcome from the talks.

National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan held a meeting with the PCG.

The PCG was nominated by the ULFA in September last year to begin exploratory talks with the government.

The government had on Friday extended the suspension of army operations against the ULFA by five days, a deadline that expires at midnight.

Before agreeing to direct talks, the government wanted the ULFA to give a letter that it was ready for such talks, name a negotiating team of top leaders and specify a time frame for the dialogue.

The ULFA has some reservations over giving a written commitment, while insisting that the five jailed leaders of the ULFA should be released to pave the way for a direct talks with the government.

The ULFA maintains it is not in a position to take a decision in the absence of their five central committee leaders who are currently in jail and hence is insisting on their release.

UNI SH/BKS PA PM2333