Peace talks must resume by Oct 29: CPN-UML

General Secretary Madhav Kumar said that the stalled peace talks between the ruling SPA and Maoists should not be delayed further.

The stalled peace talks between the Nepal's ruling Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and the rebel Maoists should not be delayed further, and must resume by Sunday, said CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.

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The summit level talks are at an uncertain stage after the fourth round was postponed indefinitely following disagreements between the two sides on key political issues.

Madhav Kumar Nepal, who was addressing a tea reception hosted by the UML Lalitpur District Committee on the occasion of Nepal Sambat (Era) 1127, said the talks were postponed due to the festive season, and must not be delayed on any pretext.

The talks should decide on the modalities to be adopted for next year's Constituent Assembly polls and the management of arms of Maoist cadres, he said.

"The election of the Constituent Assembly should be held on a proportional representation basis and a referendum should be held along with the assembly election to decide the fate of the monarchy," Nepalnews quoted, Nepal, as saying.

UML, the second largest party in the SPA, has demanded that the talks decide on the holding of a referendum for the future of monarchy before the polls and the Maoist's arms should be separated from their soldiers.