We are not very far to see the New Nepal!

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Seven-party alliance to hold talks with Maoists

A meeting of the seven agitating political parties Monday decided to form a team to negotiate with the Maoists.

The talks team will be formed after a committee of the civil society, which ?will be constituted soon? assesses the environment for a dialogue with the rebel outfit, leaders said after a top-level meeting in Lalitpur this evening. Talks between the Maoists and the seven-party alliance, they said, will begin at an appropriate moment.

?A team will be formed comprising civil society personalities which will monitor the situation prior to the negotiations [with the Maoists]. Then a negotiation team will be constituted,? CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal told reporters after the meeting.

However, a formal announcement of their decision is yet to be made.

Informed sources, meanwhile, said that seven-party leaders were unanimous over the need for early talks with the rebels to resolve the ongoing conflict. Quoting the leaders, sources said there has already been an understanding with the Maoist leadership for a dialogue but the Maoist ranks needed to create a talks-friendly atmosphere.

Today?s meeting also discussed the future course of the ongoing pro-democracy movement and denounced the recent petroleum price hike announced by the government, leaders said. nepalnews.com mk Aug 22 05

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