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| Nepal talks with rebels resume | Nepal talks with rebels resume |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Peace talks between Nepal's government and Maoist rebels have resumed amid hopes of a deal to end a decade of bloody insurgency. | Peace talks between Nepal's government and Maoist rebels have resumed amid hopes of a deal to end a decade of bloody insurgency. |
| Reports from Kathmandu say agreement has been reached on one of the most contentious issues, that of what to do with the rebels' weapons. | Reports from Kathmandu say agreement has been reached on one of the most contentious issues, that of what to do with the rebels' weapons. |
| Correspondents say differences also appear to be narrowing on another key issue - the future of the monarchy. | Correspondents say differences also appear to be narrowing on another key issue - the future of the monarchy. |
| About 13,000 people have died in the rebels' struggle for a communist state. | About 13,000 people have died in the rebels' struggle for a communist state. |
| 'Lock and key' | 'Lock and key' |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says there has not quite yet been the breakthrough many Nepalis hoped for, but emerging from six hours of talks on Monday, a senior politician said an agreement was imminent on the arms issue. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says there has not quite yet been the breakthrough many Nepalis hoped for, but emerging from six hours of talks on Monday, a senior politician said an agreement was imminent on the arms issue. |
| "We have settled as much as 95% of the issues that were discussed, among them management of the arms held by the Maoists," Arjun Narsingh, a spokesman for the Nepali Congress party told the Associated Press. | "We have settled as much as 95% of the issues that were discussed, among them management of the arms held by the Maoists," Arjun Narsingh, a spokesman for the Nepali Congress party told the Associated Press. |
| Prachanda says a major breakthrough is likelyThis particular matter has hampered the peace process, which started with a general ceasefire six months ago. | Prachanda says a major breakthrough is likelyThis particular matter has hampered the peace process, which started with a general ceasefire six months ago. |
| Reports suggest the Maoists have, for the first time, agreed to be separated from their weapons once they are confined to seven camps before elections due next year, our correspondent says. | Reports suggest the Maoists have, for the first time, agreed to be separated from their weapons once they are confined to seven camps before elections due next year, our correspondent says. |
| The rebels will keep the keys to their weapons, but the locks will be closely monitored by the United Nations and an alarm sounded if they are breached, the reports say. | The rebels will keep the keys to their weapons, but the locks will be closely monitored by the United Nations and an alarm sounded if they are breached, the reports say. |
| The rebels' most senior leader, Prachanda, has said a similar arrangement will apply to the weapons of the government army. | The rebels' most senior leader, Prachanda, has said a similar arrangement will apply to the weapons of the government army. |
| Monday's meeting came after Prachanda held informal talks with Prime Minister GP Koirala on Sunday in the presence of a UN representative. | Monday's meeting came after Prachanda held informal talks with Prime Minister GP Koirala on Sunday in the presence of a UN representative. |
| A UN team is in Nepal at the request of the two sides. | A UN team is in Nepal at the request of the two sides. |
| Interim government | Interim government |
| The prime minister and Prachanda have also reportedly agreed that the first meeting of the proposed constituent assembly will decide the fate of the monarchy. | The prime minister and Prachanda have also reportedly agreed that the first meeting of the proposed constituent assembly will decide the fate of the monarchy. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Peace is possible even in the most notorious war zones but it needs a give-and-take approach S Zafar, Roorkee, India Send us your comments | |
| Elections to the assembly are planned by June next year. | Elections to the assembly are planned by June next year. |
| The two sides are also expected to announce an agreement on an interim constitution and an interim parliament to clear the way for an interim government, which would include the rebels. | The two sides are also expected to announce an agreement on an interim constitution and an interim parliament to clear the way for an interim government, which would include the rebels. |
| Peace talks began after a popular uprising forced King Gyanendra to end his direct rule in April and appoint a multi-party government. | Peace talks began after a popular uprising forced King Gyanendra to end his direct rule in April and appoint a multi-party government. |
| The rebels, who claim to have about 35,000 fighters, backed the protests and subsequently entered into talks with the new government. | The rebels, who claim to have about 35,000 fighters, backed the protests and subsequently entered into talks with the new government. |
| Last month, the two sides held four rounds of talks but negotiations stalled on the issue of rebel disarmament and the monarchy's future. | Last month, the two sides held four rounds of talks but negotiations stalled on the issue of rebel disarmament and the monarchy's future. |