No consensus yet on tripartite accord

Home minister and coordinator of the govt. talks team Krishna Prasad Sitaula talking ...

A meeting of the representatives of the government, the United Nations and the Maoists on a tripartite agreement on management of arms and armies held Tuesday morning ended without conclusion.

After the two-hour discussion, the negotiators agreed to meet later today to finalise the tripartite accord, which they said would probably be signed today itself.

Talking to media persons after the 'informal talks' at Sangrila Hotel, Lazimpat, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said efforts were on to reach consensus on the agreement today.

Emerging out of the meeting, deputy commander of the Maoist army Barsha Man Pun 'Ananta' said they concluded the meeting as chairman Prachanda called for immediate consultation on the agreement.

The Maoist leaders are holding a separate meeting before finalising the deal.

Another Maoist deputy commander Nanda Kishor Pun 'Pasang' said, "The agreement will be finalised by this evening at any cost."

Number of arms that Maoists will be allowed to keep with them for the security of the camps, military exercise inside the camps and recognition of divisions and brigades of the PLA have come to the way of consensus on the agreement.

On Monday, chief Maoist negotiator Krishna Bahadur Mahara had said they would be able to reach a conclusion by Tuesday noon.

The government and the Maoists are in pressure to reach consensus so as to send details of the agreement to the UN Security Council meeting that is underway in Geneva. UN expert team would start working only after the decision from the UNSC. nepalnews.com ia Nov 28 06