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)
