Government has ordered the release of all detained Maoists as Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka presented two controversial bills in parliament Wednesday to form an armed police force and establish five regional administrators to devolve powers.

“The bills should not derail talks. I have ordered the release of all Maoists from jails,” Khadka told the House of Representatives. He did not specify the number of rebels being released from prisons or when they were being freed.

Khadka presented the bills for parliamentary approval less than 24 hours after both houses of parliament Tuesday rejected opposition calls  to withdraw the ordinances establishing an armed police force and appoint five regional administrators.

Maoists have not reacted as yet to the fresh move of Prime Minister Deuba to push the ordinances for final parliamentary approval in the next 17 days. Deuba  made the first move  to create  an atmosphere for talks by releasing 15 jailed rebels that lead to an announcement of  a temporary end to hostilities on both sides last month.

Maoists  reciprocated by releasing  some captured policemen. Deuba Tuesday said the government move to get parliamentary of the ordinances opposed by the Maoists should not derail talks.  “Government is committed to  a negotiated and peaceful end to the hostilities,” he said.  Deuba’s moves to end the dispute have been generally welcomed at home and abroad.

The Maoists started what they call a people’s war nearly six years ago during Deuba’s first tenure with a set of 40 demands including toppling Nepal’s monarchy. Deuba’s ruling Nepali Congress has given him a mandate to talk with the rebels within the constitutional framework only.