India holds talks with Naga rebels

Indian officials are due to hold a second round of talks on Monday with Naga tribesmen who are seeking a separate homeland.

The Indian News agency (PTI) reported that the leaders of the separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) had taken part in what they described as positive discussions with the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and they would be meeting government officials for two days of talks to try to reach agreement on their demands.

A BBC Correspondent said the general secretary of the NSCN, Thuin-Galeng-Muivah, believed that India was more receptive than before to their demands, but there had been no formal response so far.

The two sides signed a ceasefire five years ago.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service