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Nepal talks resume after break Nepal elections agreement reached
(about 7 hours later)
Leaders of Nepal's governing seven-party alliance and the Maoist rebels have resumed the second round of formal peace talks after a day's break. The government of Nepal and Maoist rebels have agreed to hold elections by the middle of June, and form a special assembly to write a new constitution.
The talks, which are aimed at ending the 10-year Maoist insurgency, have faltered over the key issue of disarming the rebels. They say an election commission will be established for this purpose as soon as possible. The decision came on the second day of key peace talks.
The two sides also differ on the future of the monarchy and a proposed interim government. The talks are aimed at ending the Maoist's decade-long insurgency.
It is only the second round of talks since a ceasefire took effect in April. The two sides will meet again on Thursday when they hope to reach a consensus on a whole range of issues.
Those talks will include the Maoists' participation in an interim government.
A senior leader of the governing coalition, Bimlendra Nidhi, said that Tuesday's talks were held in a "cordial atmosphere".
Many people prefer a constituent assembly to decide on the future of monarchy
He said that the two sides had agreed to appoint the election commissioners in a week's time who would make preparations for constituent assembly elections by June next year.
Mr Nidhi said a final date for elections will only be decided after an interim administration is put in place.
Tuesday's talks - the second round of negotiations since a ceasefire took effect in April - were between leaders of the governing seven-party alliance and the Maoists.
The aim is to end the 10-year Maoist insurgency.
The two sides differ over the key issue of disarming the rebels, the future of the monarchy and a proposed interim government.
The Maoists, who are demanding that the monarchy be abolished, have warned that if these talks fail, they will launch massive protests in Nepal's cities.The Maoists, who are demanding that the monarchy be abolished, have warned that if these talks fail, they will launch massive protests in Nepal's cities.
Disarmament
The 85-year-old prime minister, GP Koirala, has said Nepal should give a positive message to the world by settling its problems through dialogue.The 85-year-old prime minister, GP Koirala, has said Nepal should give a positive message to the world by settling its problems through dialogue.
The talks on Tuesday at the prime minister's official residence in Kathmandu are expected to thrash out mutual differences that had stalled the negotiations. In the earlier talks, both sides agreed to hold constituent assembly elections next year to draft a new constitution.
Cautious optimism They also agreed to seek UN supervision of the arms management question, and confine their respective troops within designated camps and barracks.
In the earlier talks, both sides had agreed to hold constituent assembly elections next year to draft a new constitution.
They had also agreed to seek the UN supervision in the arms management and confine their respective troops within designated camps and barracks.
Differences on the modalities have remained.
The government wants the rebels to disarm ahead of inducting them into an interim administration to hold the assembly elections.The government wants the rebels to disarm ahead of inducting them into an interim administration to hold the assembly elections.
The rebels have refused. They insisted that political issues should be settled ahead of the disarmament. The rebels have refused. They insist that political issues should be settled ahead of the disarmament.
Many people prefer a constituent assembly to decide on the future of monarchy
A series of informal consultations preceded the top level formal talks on Tuesday.
Both sides say that differences have been narrowed down.
But cautious optimism has marked the top-level dialogue.
Analysts say that a concrete agreement is less likely and that the talks could prolong.
A truce has been in place since April after a popular uprising forced king Gyanendra to end his direct rule and give way to a multi-party government of the agitating parties.A truce has been in place since April after a popular uprising forced king Gyanendra to end his direct rule and give way to a multi-party government of the agitating parties.
The rebels, who backed the anti-king agitation, subsequently entered into peace talks to end the conflict that has left 13,000 people dead.The rebels, who backed the anti-king agitation, subsequently entered into peace talks to end the conflict that has left 13,000 people dead.
Although the monarch has recently been stripped of all executive power, the rebels want the immediate abolition of the monarchy.Although the monarch has recently been stripped of all executive power, the rebels want the immediate abolition of the monarchy.
Mr Koirala has ruled that out. He wants the fate of the monarchy to be decided by the constituent assembly elections next year.Mr Koirala has ruled that out. He wants the fate of the monarchy to be decided by the constituent assembly elections next year.