The government has decided to form a three-member committee to initiate dialogue with the Maoist rebels under the chairmanship of Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

Friday’s cabinet meeting made the decision to this effect.

The other members will be added after expansion of the cabinet on Sunday,report quoted a cabinet source as saying.

The cabinet meeting was held at the prime minister’s official residence at Baluwatar Friday afternoon.

According to the source, the cabinet has also decided to form a separate committee comprising representatives of the seven party alliance and members of the House of Representatives to assist the dialogue team.

Names of the committee members are yet to be finalized.

The cabinet meeting also decided to form a five-member committee headed by Agriculture Minister Mahantha Thakur to change within a month all laws, provisions and rules as per the House of Representatives proclamation.

Law Reforms Commission Vice-chairman Uday Nepali Shrestha and former home secretary Srikanta Regmi are committee members and Secretary at the Commission Hari Prasad Neupane is the member-secretary.

The Maoist had also formed a three member team headed by party spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara to hold preliminary talks with the Maioists. However the party has decided that party chairman Prachanda will lead the summit talks.