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Nepal PM meets Maoist rebel chief Nepal talks fixed for 8 October
(about 4 hours later)
Nepalese Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, has met the top Maoist leader, Prachanda, to speed up the peace process in the country. Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and top Maoist leader Prachanda will hold summit-level talks on 8 October, the two sides say.
The meeting took place ahead of the planned talks between the governing seven-party alliance and the rebels. The announcement came after the two men met informally on Thursday, the original date for the summit which was put back to allow for more "homework".
The talks were due on Thursday. They have been put off to allow more time for preparation by both sides. The BBC's Sushil Sharma in Kathmandu says much hope is pinned on the talks but there remain many differences.
The rebels have said they were willing to hold a round of substantive peace talks with the government. A ceasefire was declared after mass protests ended palace rule in April.
There is speculation that that the talks could take place on Friday, but some reports say the meeting has been delayed by at least a week.
Maoist spokesman, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, told the BBC that the meeting between Mr Koirala and Mr Prachanda was "informal".
DifferencesDifferences
The brief meeting between Mr Koirala and Mr Prachanda took place after the two sides decided to defer the formal talks to allow more time for preparation. The joint statement issued in the capital, Kathmandu, on Thursday said: "The two sides have decided to hold the summit meeting between their leaders on 8 October.
Much hope is being pinned on these talks, but there are differences to be settled first. "They have also agreed to take the ongoing talks forward to an early conclusion."
Peace talks have taken place between the two sides since they agreed upon a truce in April. Peace talks began after the two sides agreed the April truce.
But they have been stalled in recent weeks over issues such as the management of weapons and the future of the monarchy.But they have been stalled in recent weeks over issues such as the management of weapons and the future of the monarchy.
The rebels have refused to give up arms and want the monarchy to be scrapped. The rebels say they are willing to hold "substantive" peace talks but refuse to give up arms and want the monarchy to be scrapped.
The government insists that the rebels disarm before they can be inducted into the government. For its part, the government insists that the rebels disarm before they join the government.
The Prime Minister has also spoken in favour of a ceremonial monarchy until a constituent assembly is elected next year which will decide the fate of the monarchy. The prime minister has also spoken in favour of a ceremonial monarchy until a constituent assembly is elected next year which will decide the fate of the monarchy.
A popular uprising ended the King's direct rule in Nepal in April and most of the monarch's powers and privileges have been stripped since then. Most of King Gyanendra's powers and privileges have been stripped since his direct rule ended in April.