Kathmandu: Nepalese Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has called an all-party meeting on April 13 to discuss formalities relating to holding peace talks with Maoists as political parties indicated they would not participate unless the King restored Democratic rights of the people.

This is the third attempt by Chand to convene an all-party meeting with a view to boost the ongoing peace process and converting the Maoist-government ceasefire into lasting peace.

The meeting on April 13 seeks to form the government's talks committee, which would formally initiate dialogue with the rebels.

The four major parties, including Nepali Congress and Nepal Communist Party-UML (CPN- UML) boycotted the last two meetings called by the Prime Minister, saying they would not participate in the meeting called by the "illegitimate" government.

The government and the Maoists formulated the 22-point code of conduct last month without consulting major parties after they boycotted the meet.

Nepali Congress has said it would not attend the meeting. "This government was formed by the King through the royal proclamation after dissolving an elected government in an unconstitutional and undemocratic manner," said NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh K C.

"We will not participate in the meeting called by the illegitimate Prime Minister," he claimed, adding "We have no intention to block the peace talks."

Sources close to the CPN-UML said they would also boycott the meeting called by Chand.

PTI