Kathmandu, Apr 14: The first day of the Nepalese New Year was celebrated all over the country today in the backdrop of the ceasefire between the government and the Maoist rebels and with the hope of permanent peace in the Himalayan kingdom. The government will form a committee for the peace talks, likely to begin within a week, by Wednesday with the approval of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, sources close to the premier said. The talks committee will comprise members of the Cabinet. The Maoists have already formed a five-member talks committee led by their second-in-command Baburam Bhattarai. Meanwhile, in a message today, King Gyanendra wished his people on the occasion of the New Year of Bikram era 2060. "Peace, security and good governance are the foundations of stability and the need of the day is to assure the people of a bright future by strengthening these foundations and leading the country on the path of progress," he said.

Bureau Report