Kathmandu: In a positive start to the peace process, Nepal government and Maoists have expressed satisfaction over the first round of talks during which the rebels demanded immediate release of all their imprisoned activists and recall of the Army within a week.

The ultras also want an interim government to be formed and a Special Assembly elected to draft a new Constitution before the end of this year.

"We have made four major demands including that the Army return to barracks and all Maoist prisoners be released within 15 days," chief Maoist negotiator Baburam Bhattarai told reporters on April 27 night after five hours of closed-door talks with the government side led by Deputy Prime Minister B P Mandal.

Bhattarai also asked the government to make public the whereabouts of Maoist activists who have disappeared, and demanded scrapping of the anti-terrorism Law introduced last year.

Nepal Minister for Communication Ramesh Nath Pandey said, "The talks were very satisfactory and we are very much encouraged of a successful conclusion."

He said after having listened to the Maoists' agenda, the government will be formulating a stand after holding discussions within the Cabinet.

Both sides have also decided to form a two-member committee to monitor the ongoing ceasefire and discuss the next course of action.

As the talks began, both sides greeted each other cheerfully and shook hands as they sat down for talks – the first time the two sides have met in about two years.

PTI