Violence clouds AP peace talks

8216;8216;The talks have reached an unpalatable situation,8221; said a spokesman for CM Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. But Kannabiran said it was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who had assured the Committee that the state government would not 8216;8216;undertake any offensive operations8217;8217; against the Maoists.

As mediators, Kannabiran and S.S. Sankaran, had met the PM on October 31 written a letter to Singh on December 10 with the second round of talks scheduled on December 18.

On December 22, the PM wrote to Kannabiran saying: 8216;8216;The state government is concerned at the token display of rams by Naxalite cadre during their visits to villages and habitats, which goes against the spirit and letter of clause 7 of the agreement8230;Extortion demands, in particular, are causing a great deal of unease8230;8217;8217;