Kathmandu, June 30: Nepal's government and Maoist rebels insisted today they were committed to peace talks even as they were at loggerheads over what had already been agreed to in earlier negotiations. Since their last meeting May 9, Nepal has had a change of government, while both sides have reported a number of violations of their five-month truce. Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, also searching for a truce with mainstream parties opposed to his royal-appointed government, said a third round of talks would be held soon but has not set a date.

Thapa, appointed June 4, told a news agency in an interview he wanted negotiations, not violence, to resolve disputes with the Maoists.

"There is nothing which could not be resolved through dialogue. One should reach the middle path to reach an agreement if any difficult issues crop up," Thapa said.


Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal accused the government of neglecting the process and the army of provocations even as the Maoists were making good-faith efforts towards peace.


"The army has tried to derail the process by carrying out various provocative activities with ulterior motives," said Dahal, better known as Prachanda, or "he fierce."

"The Maoists are still committed to bring ongoing peace talks to their logical end despite such activities by the army."
Prachanda, who has appealed for mainstream parties to help the rebels organize a new round of peace talks, said the new government needed to show its goodwill by immediately releasing jailed Maoists and revealing the fate of those rebels who have disappeared during the insurgency. Bureau Report