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Prime minister decides to meet with Maoist leader

Nepal's prime minister and the Maoist rebel leader met yesterday to try to end a decade-long insurgency.

The talks took place at the Kathmandu residence of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala where Maoist chief Prachanda arrived in the morning with Nepal's home minister.

"The PM and our chairman [Prachanda] are discussing how to hold constituent assembly elections soon," said Dinanath Sharma, a member of the rebel team who went into the meeting between Prachanda and Koirala.

The new government has agreed to hold elections for a body to redraft Nepal's constitution, a key demand of the Maoists who also want to scrap the monarchy.

The Maoists and a seven-party political alliance entered a loose alliance last year.

Once former foes, the two groups organized mass protests that crippled the country, leading King Gyanendra to give up his direct control of the impoverished Himalayan nation.

"Talks between top leaders of the seven-party alliance and the Maoists will also be held today," Nepal Television reported.

Prachanda disappeared a decade ago to wage a rebellion that has claimed more than 12,500 lives since 1996. But the rebels have observed a ceasefire with the interim government that came to power in April after mass protests forced King Gyanendra to end 14 months of direct rule and reopen parliament.
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