Minister for Physical Planning Col. Narayan Singh Pun and two facilitators who helped broker talks between the government and Maoists denied Thursday a five-hour meeting between King Gyanendra
and Maoist leaders Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai at Narayanhiti Royal Palace
propelled peace talks. 

Government coordinator and Minister for Physical Planning Col. Narayan Singh Pun said his talks
with Maoist leader Sagar Chetri started the latest peace process. “There is no truth in today’s newspaper report. I may have made some mistakes,” Col Pun said. 

He refused to answer questions from reporters at the Reporters’ Club Thursday at the end of a brief
statement. “The talks will be extremely difficult and serious. Nepalis want peace. We have got an opportunity. The talks are an opportunity to turn our dream into reality and restore peace. Everybody has to help to make it a success,” Col. Pun said in a brief remark. 

“The report in the press today is 101 percent false. This is absolutely false,” said Dr. Birendra Jhapali, one of two facilitators who brokered the peace talks between the government and the rebels. D.R. Lamichani conferred. They were described as left facilitators. 

Lamichani said Maoists are presently meeting somewhere in the Valley to plan their next move
after the breakthrough. 

Great Britain Thursday welcomed the news of the cease-fire and proposed peace talks. “I welcome this important and positive development. We hope that the cease-fire will lead to a negotiated settlement and move towards peace in Nepal,” Foreign Office Minister Mike O’Brien said in a statement in London.