Kathmandu, Oct. 17: The seniornmost leader of Maoist insurgents confirmed in a statement Monday a senior rebel leader had met Sher Bahadur Deuba to set conditions to start a dialogue to end a nearly five- year old rebellion to establish a communist state in Nepal claiming nearly 1450 lives.

Comrade Prachanda in a statement said the rebels are ready to start a dialogue with the government if it makes public the whereabouts of its leaders currently in detention to suspend hostilities and initiate talks.

The term of the Deuba commission to negotiate with the rebels ended Monday and it has not been extended.

Earlier Deuba in statement said a central committee of the Maoists had met him to broker a deal for the talks.

Prachanda nor Deuba did not say who, when or where the Maoist and Deuba met. Maoists killed two persons and injured another Sunday in Chuha village in Kailali district in west Nepal Sunday, police said.

Meanwhile, government has appointed Sri Kant Regmi as new Home secretary replacing Padma Pokhrel as heads roll in the government following two major Maoist attacks on police posts killing 22 policemen and injuring 40 others, officials said.

Regmi was transferred from the Health Ministry and has worked in the Home Ministry before.

Government has started deploying army companies in all the 75 administrative districts for patrol duties at district headquarters following the September massacre of policemen by the Maoists.

The government has also activated the lotal security committees under the chairmanship of the Chief District Officer to call for army assistance in emergencies. nepalnews.com br