Govt likely to hold talks with armed Terai groups Friday

The government is preparing to hold the first round of peace talks with four armed Terai groups Friday morning.

A meeting of the talks team of the ruling seven-party alliance held Thursday decided to sit for talks with the rebel groups in Janakpur.

The armed groups had sent a joint letter to the government yesterday, expressing readiness to sit for talks. The four groups have already announced their talks team led by Rajan Mukti, central coordinator of the Madhesi Mukti Morcha.

The government talks team - Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, Shankar Ppkhrel of UML, Hitman Shakya of Maoist, Ghanashyam Poudel of People's Front Nepal and Sunil Prajapati of Nepal Workers and Peasant Party - are expected to fly to Janakpur this evening.

The armed groups have demanded that the government release their arrested comrades and withdraw cases filed against them to create a conducive and credible atmosphere for holding talks. They have also asked that the time and place for dialogue be fixed through mediators, saying that the government would be responsible for the safety of their talks team members. nepalnews.com ia Mar 27 08

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