Talks between the government and Maoists to end a communist insurgency that has claimed more than 1,800 lives in nearly six years will begin Thursday, an official announcement said.

Both sides have agreed the talks will begin Thursday, an announcement said. The venue of the talks has not been disclosed. The fresh date for talks was fixed after a 10 day deadline set by the government to begin negotiations lapsed Sunday.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba personally set the new date for the talks in a letter to the rebels, sources said. Maoists have demanded an interim government, a new constitution and a republic.

Government and other communists, including the UML, have said the demand for a republic in a country with strong monarchical tradition will have a destabilizing effect. The agenda for the talks has not been set.