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Nepal government starts peace talks with rebels

Nepal's government and Maoist rebels began talks yesterday aimed at ending a seven-year revolt that has killed thousands and wrecked the Himalayan kingdom's economy.

The meeting began amid high security in Nepalgunj, 500km west of Kathmandu, in an area where the Maoists control large swathes of farmland and forest.

Maoist rebels, fighting to topple the constitutional monarchy, agreed last month to resume talks after the government freed their top leaders. They have already had two meetings since a surprise ceasefire in January but the discussions stalled in May.

"We hope the talks will be result oriented," chief Maoist negotiator Babu Ram Bhattarai told reporters before going into the meeting.

Government representatives were also hopeful despite the problems in the past.

"Had we not been optimistic we would not have come," chief government negotiator Prakash Chandra Lohani told reporters.

Nearly 100 demonstrators stood outside the meeting hall carrying placards, one of which read "We want peace not war."

The first round of talks are expected to last for several hours.

"We will present ourselves very responsibly at the talks," Bhattarai had said late on Saturday.

He said the Maoists wanted a response to their proposal for an interim government that would draft a constitution defining the king's role.

The government has also said it was sincere in wanting to make these latest discussions a success.

Sharpshooters have been posted in the bustling business center in west Nepal close to the border with India and security has been increased.

The resumption of talks has raised hopes for peace among a people scarred by almost 10 years of violence that has claimed more than 7,200 lives.
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