Peace accord could be signed today

Following six hours of talks between the talks teams of the government and the Maoists, the two sides have claimed that they have narrowed down their differences over the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), which they said could be signed on Tuesday.

"We are very close to finalizing the peace accord. There are very few differences that now remain and which we hope to clear by Tuesday," said Home Minister and government talks coordinator Krishna Sitaula.

Likewise, Krishna Mahara, spokesperson of the Maoists and its talks team coordinator, also added that the talks were moving positively. "Maybe tomorrow we will be able to finalize the deal and then we will start negotiating on the interim constitution," he told reporters after marathon discussion with the government side held at Park Village resort in Budhanilkantha on Monday.

As per the November 8 agreement, the CPA should have been signed by November 16 itself. But the government and the Maoists failed to honor that time line. They later postponed the time line till November 21, which is today.

The CPA, among others, is expected to officially declare the decade-long armed conflict over. It has provisions about human rights protection as well. nepalnews.com sd Nov 21 06

Related News
- Govt.-Maoist talks teams finalizing peace accord, interim constitution