Maoists are expected declare a truce in the second week of April to help the seven political parties in their stir, an English-language newspaper reported Tuesday quoting a leader of the seven-party alliance as saying in New Delhi.

The Himalayan Times daily quoted the leader as saying that Maoists have agreed not to obstruct the peaceful street movement and take the alliance with the political parties to the village level. No big programmes will be launched till April 6 to give the King time for reconciliation, he added.

Leaders of the seven parties are holding talks with the Maoist leadership in New Delhi on ways to effectively implement the 12-point understanding reached between the two sides in November last year.

CPN-UML leaders Jhal Nath Khanal and Bamdev Gautam, NC leaders Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Mahantha Thakur, Chairman of People’s Front Nepal Amik Sherchan and spokesman of CPN Unity Centre Mashal Narayan Kaji Shrestha had left for New Delhi to hold talks with the Maoists to improve upon the understanding and persuade the Maoists to call off the blockades and strikes.

Shrestha is not the member of the alliance but is reportedly facilitating talks between the two sides.

However, the Maoist side, led by Dr Baburam Bhattarai, is learnt to have told the alliance leaders that they would call off the protest programmes including blockade and indefinite strike only after both the sides agree upon a common programme of agitation, the newspaper report said.

There has been no official statement from both the sides regarding the latest talks.