The government and the Maoists have agreed to postpone the summit talks till after the Dashain festival to October 8th.

Members of the government and Maoists talk team at a press conference announcing the new date for high level talks in Kathmandu, Thursday, Sep 28 06. nepalnews.com/rh

The talks teams from both the government and the Maoists made the announcement at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Coordinator of the government talks team Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the summit talks is being postponed as it needed more homework and discussion.

Earlier, Maoist chairman Prachanda and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, in an informal meeting held at the latter’s residence Baluwatar had agreed to postpone the summit meeting.

During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to hold summit talks only after Dashain, which was earlier scheduled for today and was reportedly postponed for Friday, a Maoist source said.

The Maoist leaders presented their nine-point agenda before the prime minister at the meeting. Koirala however did not react to the Maoist proposal, the source added.

Maoist leaders Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai and Dev Gurung and Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Nepali Congress central leader Dr Shekhar Koirala were also present at the meeting.

PM Koirala is scheduled to leave for Biratnagar on Friday for rest for a few days.