Kathmandu: Nepal on February 23 said formal peace talks with Maoist insurgents will begin around the third week of March.

"First we will hold goodwill talks with the Maoists and only then will the formal talks begin," chief government negotiator, Minister for Physical Planning and Construction Narayan Singh Pun told reporters.

Pointing out that political parties will also be included in the talks with the Maoists, Pun said a code of conduct to facilitate the talks has been exchanged and both parties have responded positively to it.

However, the government has not announced its talks committee, despite the Maoists having already made public a five-member delegation to be led by Baburam Bhattarai.

PTI