The government is expected to form a two member team for talks with the Maoists under the leadership of home minister Krishna Sitaula by this evening.

The meeting of top leaders of the seven parties held at the prime minister’s residence on Thursday morning has given authority to the prime minister to form the team.

President of People’s Front Nepal Amik Sherchan told reporters after the meeting that the team may be made public by this evening and will be extended within the next three days.

However, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said the team would be extended after the establishment of the high level peace secretariat. According to reporters present at the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar, the seven parties have agreed to establish a peace secretariat with one representative from each party of the SPA to facilitate the peace process.

There are reports that Maoists have formed three-member negotiation team under the leadership of its spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Wednesday.

In the meantime, the leaders did not finalize the issue of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of NC-D admitted there were differences among the leaders of seven parties regarding the election of the Speaker. Nepal proposed that UML should get the position as it has compromised on seats in the cabinet but Deuba opposed the proposal and left the meeting hall.

NC-D has been demanding that Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav must be designated the position. Deuba and Sherchan left the meeting in the middle when they could not reach a compromise.

The differences among the leaders have also led to a delay in the cabinet expansion. Sherchan told reporters that the cabinet is unlikely to get expanded before finalizing the issue of the Speaker.

The meting was held for more than four hours.