Maoists urged to resume talks

By Sushil Sharma
BBC correspondent in Kathmandu

The Maoists want Nepal's army to be confined close to barracks

Nepal's Government has issued a formal request to Maoist rebels to resume stalled peace talks.

Government negotiator and senior minister Kamal Thapa made the request after a series of informal talks with the rebels.

Disputes and mistrust have cast a shadow on the peace process since the last round of talks two months ago.

However, the government has signalled it is willing to yield on some of the demands made by the Maoists.

Mutual suspicion

The rebels earlier insisted that previous agreements had to be implemented ahead of the next round of talks.

They want the government to release three senior leaders, give information about the Maoist workers who allegedly disappeared while in government custody and restrict the army's movements to within five kilometres of barracks.

The government is not willing to accept a restriction on the army's movement but authorities say the other demands would be met once the rebels agreed to a date for talks.

Although they have hinted at their readiness to discuss the issue of the army's movement, the rebels doubt the government's sincerity.

They suspect that the government is gearing up to crush their insurgency.

The government is also suspicious that the rebels may be taking advantage of the peace process to re-group and resume hostilities.

Both sides have accused each other of violating a code of conduct that has been in place since a ceasefire was declared last January.

The seven-year insurgency has claimed more than 7,000 lives.