Summit talks between the Nepali Seven Party Alliance government and the guerrilla Sunday ended after nearly nine hours without reaching any formal agreement on any outstanding issue.

However, the talks are scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides issued a press release.

The draft of the interim constitution was presented before the top leaders of the seven parties and the guerrillas at the meeting Sunday, the release stated.

"At the meeting, issues like interim constitution, election of constituent assembly, implementation of past agreements, arms management, relief to conflict-victims, socio-economic transformation and restructuring of the state were discussed in a cordial atmosphere," the release stated.

"The discussions have been very positive," the release said, which is signed by government talks coordinator Krishna Prasad Sitaula and guerrilla talks coordinator Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

Meanwhile, giving his response to media, the general secretary of the Communist Party Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, Madhav Kumar Nepal, said that there had been wide understanding to hold elections for the Constituent Assembly by April/May next year.

He added that the meeting also agreed to appoint Commissioners to the Election Commission at the earliest for the purpose.

"Secondly, various aspects of interim constitution were discussed. We discussed the weaknesses seen in the implementation of past agreements," Nepal said.

At least 32 top leaders of the parties including Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and guerrilla's top leader Prachanda took part in the talks.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)