Kathmandu, Aug 07: The Nepal government and Maoist rebels have agreed to hold their third round of talks next week, Nepalese information and communication minister Kamal Thapa said. The Maoists have agreed over telephone to sit for fresh talks with the government next week, Thapa told reporters here yesterday. Thapa, who is also the government spokesman, said he had a telephonic conversation with Maoist negotiator Krishna Bahadur Mahara yesterday, during which the two sides agreed to hold talks next week. Expressing the hope that the talks would have a positive outcome, he said the government is ready to talk with the Maoists on a political agenda as demanded by the rebels, which would include the issues of constitutional monarchy, multiparty democracy and sovereignty of the people. Meanwhile, Maoist attacks continued, and three civilians were seriously injured when a government vehicle was blown up by the insurgents in Sindhuli district, a home ministry official said.


The chief of the Bagmati watershed project and two other staff of the project were seriously injured when their vehicle was targeted by Maoists this morning, the official said.


The vehicle was totally damaged in the ambush, he said.


Bureau Report