The “Summit level talks” between the top leadership of the ruling Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and CPN (Maoist) concluded in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, on Friday.

Maoist Chairman Prachanda talking to journalists for the first time publicly after the summit talks between the govt. and the Maoists at the prime minister’s residence Friday evening, June 16 06. nepalnews.com

Maoist Chairman Prachanda talking to journalists for the first time publicly after the summit….
Both the sides agreed to invite the United Nations to help and monitor the management of arms and armed personnel of both the sides and invite international observers, if necessary, during the elections to the Constituent Assembly.

Talking to reporters for the first time in Kathmandu after decade-old armed conflict, Maoist supreme, Prachanda, said his party would like to see a new interim constitution and interim government within a month and elections to be held for the Constituent Assembly by April-May, next year.

He said his party was ready to dissolve its “people’s governments” formed at local level in its strongholds if the SPA agreed to dissolve the reinstated House of Representatives. ……

Though a large number of journalists were present, they were not given access to the talk venue until the press conference. Most of the questions were asked to Prachanda on the press conference.

CPN UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and President of Nepali Congress Democratic Sher Bahadur Deuba also spoke on the joint press conference, but they are largely ignored by mediapersons.

Other top leaders of the seven-party alliance and Maoist ideologue Dr Baburam Bhattarai also attended the press conference.

Maoist chairman Prachanda and leader Dr Bhattarai were wearing shirts of same colour.

Earlier, discussions were held for about eight hours on the core political issues such as procedure of constituent assembly, interim statute, and interim government among others.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala held informal talks with the Maoists leaders before the summit talks on Friday morning.

Prior to the high level talks, Maoist chairman Prachanda and senior leader Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai had arrived in the capital in a Dynasty airlines helicopter. They didn’t use the regular airport at Pokhara, they were flown on the chopper from Lamachaur of Pokhara. Prachanda’s wife also accompanied the leaders.

Upon arrival in the capital, they were met at the airport by Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and one of the members of the Maoist talks team Dev Gurung.

Immediately after their arrival, Home Minister Sitaula rushed both the Maoist leaders the Prime Minster’s official residence in Baluwatar in his vehicle.

Besides regular security officials Maoist cadres were also seen providing security in and outside the Prime Minister’s official residence.

Some Maoist cadres manhandled journalists at Prime Minister’s residence, trying to take snaps of the rebels’ leader upon his arrival.

Journalists waited outside the main gate of the Prime Minster’s quarters at Baluwatar from early in the morning till the press conference. Access was denied to journalists to the venue of talks and leaders of seven political parties entered Baluwatar from Number 3 gate to avoid journalists at the main entrance.