The Nepali government and the Maoists have concluded their five-hour initial round of peace talks by agreeing to continue the peace process and creating a 25-point code of conduct to be followed by both sides.

Signed jointly by Home Minister Krishna Sitaula and coordinator of the Maoist negotiation team Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the code of conduct says both parties would cease all types of military activities during the period of ceasefire.

According to the code of conduct- no donations would be collected, both parties have agreed to make public the whereabouts of disappeared people, not create obstacles in the transportation of essential goods and development materials including food and medicine. They have also agreed to create the suitable environment for the IDPs to return home and have promised to release detainees. Both parties have also agreed to involve international team to monitor the ceasefire.

The code of conduct comes into force from Friday and may be amended on the basis of mutual consensus.

According to Himalkhabar.com, Krishna Sitaula assured that solution to the problem would be found. We want to tell the people that we are not returning to war, Sitaula said.

Similarly Maoist negotiation team leader Krishna Bahadur said that the government is committed to conduct constituent assembly elections and discussion of the procedure of the elections have also started with this round of peace talks. Mahara assured that the talks will take into consideration the feeling of Jana Andolan II and the 12-point agreement between seven party alliance and the Maoists We have always been sincere about peace talks and this time we are even more so, Mahara added.

Both the sides said peace negotiations would continue and date and venue of second round of talks would be decided through consultations.