The Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) led government and the Communist Party of Nepal - Maoists began the first sitting of the summit talks at the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar today. The Maoists talks team includes their Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Krishna Mahara. The meeting began at 9AM and broke for lunch at noon.

Leaders from various parties of the SPA include Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Situala, Sushil Koirala, Ramchandra Poudel, CPN-UML- General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Bharat Mohan Adhikary, Jhalnath Khanal, Minister for Tourism Pradeep Gyawali, Chairman of the Nepali Congress - Democratic Sher Bahadur Deuba, State Minister for Labour Ramesh Lekhak, Naryan Man Bijukche from the Nepal Peasants Workers Party, Transport Minister and leader of Nepal Sadbhawana Party Hridesh Tripathi among others. Inside sources revealed that the older generation leaders from the Nepali Congress voiced their opinion before lunch while others were expected to speak in the second half of the day.

Sources have said the meeting will not conclude today as matters such as constituent assembly elections, weapons management, monarchy, re-structuring of the state need to be discussed. "Talks will be held today and tomorrow and the results made public on Tuesday," said one leader before entering the PM's quarters.

The talks originally scheduled to take place before Dasain, was postponed after PM Koirala and Chairman Prachanda informally agreed on today's date. However the talks committees from both the government and the Maoists held preliminary consultations yesterday at the Hotel Himalaya. Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and his team met with the government team and leaders from other parties.