King for peace talks with Maoists

Nepal's newly-formed royalist Govt will soon appoint negotiators to hold unconditional talks with Maoists.

Nepal's newly-appointed royalist government will soon appoint negotiators who will hold unconditional peace talks with Maoist rebels, local media reported on Monday.

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It is the first step towards a peaceful end to a bloody Maoist revolt since King Gyanendra seized power a week ago, but is also being twinned with an increased army offensive and an appeal for the guerrillas to give up their weapons.

"(The government) is going to form a dialogue committee that will hold a dialogue with the Maoists soon," Culture and Aviation Minister Buddhiraj Bajracharya said, according to The Kathmandu Post.

"Now they should come for dialogue without any condition."

Bajracharya, one of the most senior members of Gyanendra's new 10-member cabinet, also said the king did not plan to ban political parties, despite arresting party leaders when he sacked the government last week.

The ousted government's failure to make any progress in ending the nine-year Maoist rebellion that has killed more than 11,000 people was one of the reasons Gyanendra gave for his abrupt move.