Kathmandu, July 29: Denying Maoist claim that there was a foreign military base and military advisors on its soil, the Nepalese government has said the rebels should come to the negotiating table instead of putting forth fresh demands each time. "There are no foreign military personnel except those who came for joint exercise and training from time to time," information minister and spokesman of the government dialogue team has Kamal Thapa has said. The Maoists, in a letter to the government yesterday, demanded termination of five year anti-terror pact with the US, expulsion of the US defence expert from Nepal and disclosure of the government's political agenda. The letter was in response to a government invitation for the third round of talks. The rebels have also issued a five-day ultimatum to hold the third round of talks. The deadline expires on July 31. Thapa urged the rebels to come to the negotiating table instead of making the problem an issue for public debate. "The Maoists have been putting forth new demands and pre-conditions everytime they write a letter," the minister said.

"Instead of setting terms and conditions through a letter, the problem could be resolved through dialogue," Thapa said adding the government will reply to the Maoist's letter soon.

Bureau Report