Nepal government, rebels to continue peace talks

Kathmandu, Oct 10: Nepal's government and Maoist rebels expressed satisfaction after peace talks today, but adjourned for two days without resolving differences over the thorny issue of disarming the leftist insurgents.

The dialogue, led by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda, was the second attempt in three days to negotiate the rebels' entry into an interim administration.

Prachanda told reporters the talks were ''positive'' as he left the meeting in a jeep.

The two sides held long-delayed talks on Sunday and Tuesday after serious differences over arms and the role of the monarchy in an interim constitution had dogged the peace process.

Officials said they would continue attempts to bridge the divide at lower level discussions tomorrow before Koirala and Prachanda meet again the following day.

''A consensus on arms management, an interim constitution and other political subjects will be worked out and presented to the next meeting on Thursday,'' Arjun Narsingh K C, a member of Koirala's Nepali Congress party said.

The peace process began in May after King Gyanendra surrendered power following weeks of often bloody street protests.

The government has conceded to a key Maoist demand to hold elections for an assembly to write a new constitution and decide the future of the monarchy. It has also promised to bring the rebels into an interim administration.

''It was decided the constituent assembly elections will be held by June 2007,'' Arjun K C said. ''The government will appoint an election commission next week to prepare for the election.'' Both sides have agreed to confine their armies to camps or barracks under UN supervision during the constituent assembly elections.

But some members of the ruling coalition say the rebels should disarm before joining the interim cabinet that will supervise the planned elections.

The Maoists, who see the constituent assembly elections as a tool to abolish the monarchy, say they would rather stay out of the administration than lay down their weapons.

The rebels, wary of joining any government which pays lip service to the king, have also called for the monarchy to be suspended or abolished immediately.

More than 13,000 people have died since the conflict began in 1996. Previous talks with rebels foundered in 2001 and 2003 over the question of the monarchy.

As the meeting began, hundreds of people carrying placards demonstrated outside the venue to press for the successful conclusion of the peace process.

''Set up an interim government immediately,'' they shouted.

''Declare the date for constituent assembly elections,'' another slogan said.

It was not clear who had organised the protests but in the past the Maoists have used carefully orchestrated demonstrations to press their demands.

Reuters

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