Nepal peace talks conclude

By Daniel Lak
BBC correspondent in Kathmandu

Maoist rebels and government negotiators in Nepal have held a second round of peace talks to try to end seven years of conflict.

Maoists say they are committed to peace

The war has cost more than 7,000 lives and driven the country's economy into the doldrums.

This round of talks, in the capital Kathmandu, seems to have been largely concerned with procedural matters, and no new date has yet been set for another meeting.

There had been suggestions that government negotiators would submit their political agenda to the Maoists at this session of the talks.

In the first round of dialogue, just under two weeks ago, the rebels gave the government a long list of demands and said they expected a response.

So far, that doesn't seem to have happened.

But the apparent absence of direct debate on core issues like the changing of the constitution and the future of the Nepalese monarchy doesn't mean that this session was a failure.

Ceasefire holding

Officials say the two sides did talk about a committee to monitor the current ceasefire between rebel fighters and the security forces.

The ceasefire was declared in January and is largely holding.

There were also said to be discussions of the code of conduct for behaviour agreed by both sides and of ways to deal with alleged violations or disputes.

No date for the next round of peace talks was announced, but a sub-committee of negotiators from both sides will meet soon to discuss that.

All in all, Nepalis are probably relieved that both the talks process and the ceasefire are continuing.

The country has had more than three months of peace now.

When negotiations get to serious political issues, there'll definitely be more tension.

Such things as human rights abuses and atrocities by both sides during the civil war are bound to create problems when they come up.

But the longer the two sides spend establishing common ground and getting to know one another, the better.

This is only the beginning of a long and complex process.