Koirala-Prachanda talks likely today

However, no official announcement has been made about the date of the top level meeting between the seven-party alliance government and the elusive Maoist leader.

But after today8217;s two-hour long talks, Home Minister Krishna Sitoula, who is also the chief government peace negotiator, said the Koirala-Prachanda meeting will be held 8216;8216;very soon8217;8217; in Kathmandu, without disclosing the date.

During the meeting with the Maoist chief, all top leaders of the seven-party alliance will be present, Sitoula said without elaborating. Even today8217;s talks were shrouded in secrecy. State-run radio Nepal disclosed the venue and time of talks only a few minutes before the parleys began.

Prime Minister Koirala is leaving for Bangkok on Saturday for medical check up, according to Koirala8217;s personal aide. Koirala, 84, is suffering from respiratory problems and he has been advised by his personal physician to go abroad for the check-up.

As Koirala is leaving Nepal for about a week, he wants to settle down the issue before his visit, a source close to Koirala said. The talks between Prachanda and Koirala is expected to pave the way for ending a decade-long armed conflict that has so far claimed 13,000 lives.

SHIRISH B PRADHAN