Kathmandu, Apr 01: The Nepalese government would begin peace talks with Maoist rebels from today to put an end to the seven-year old insurgency in the country, the government peace negotiator said earlier. Narayan Singh Pun, who is also the minister for physical planning, said the two sides will face each other in a "goodwill meeting" today in Kathmandu.
Top Maoist leader and chief rebel negotiator Baburam Bhattarai is in the capital for the talks. The rebel leader was in hiding for the last seven years.
Bhattarai is accompanied by another Maoist leader Ram Bahadur Thapa alias Badal.

The government and the Maoists had agreed to a ceasefire in January and agreed to initiate peace process to put an end to the insurgency which has claimed 7,500 lives so far.
They have also agreed on a 22-point code of conduct to facilitate the peace talks.
The Maoists have demanded the release of their five top leaders as pre-condition for initiating the dialogue.
During previous peace talks in 2001, rebel negotiators and government coordinators met thrice before the Maoists accused the government of being "inflexible" and withdrew from the talks. Bureau Report