Nepal’s government and Maoist rebels began formal peace talks, witnesses said. Negotiating teams from both sides arrived at the talks venue in Kathmandu and shook hands in front of the press before entering into a closed door meeting. Beforehand government negotiator Naryan Singh Pun said: “We have come for the talks to find a peaceful solution. We are highly hopeful that the talks will end in success.” When asked what he was hoping from the negotiations, Maoist negotiator Babu Ram Bhattarai said: “Please wait, let’s start the talks first.” The negotiations at a four-star hotel close to the royal palace started half an hour late because the rebel team said they were held up by traffic. A ceasefire was declared by the rebels and the government on January 29 and they said they were willing to hold talks to end seven years of bloody insurgency. Full Story
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