Kathmandu: The Maoist rebels' decision to sit for the third round of talks is a "positive" one and the government "welcomes" it, Nepal's Minister of Information and Communication Kamal Thapa has said.

"We have taken this step as positive and the third round of talks will be held soon," he told a local daily.

"The Maoist leader has created a conducive atmosphere by instructing their five-member dialogue team to prepare for the fresh talks," he said.

"It is a positive gesture on the part of the Maoists and the government welcomes that," spokesman of the government's dialogue team told the 'Annapurna Post' daily on July 31.

"The government has been effortful since the beginning to involve political parties in dialogue process as demanded by the Maoists and it will continue the effort," he said, adding the government has informally informed the political parties about the developments of the talks process.

Maoist leader Prachana on July 31 said in a statement that the outfit had agreed to sit for the third round of talks after the release of three Central leaders and the government's decision to make public the whereabouts of missing ultras.

Though the government had released three Maoist rebels and made public the whereabouts of some of them during the emergency, it had rejected their demands to involve the king in the talks, expulsion of American soldiers from Nepal, cancellation of the anti-terrorism agreement with the US and limiting the movement of the Royal Nepalese Army within five kilometres from the barracks.

PTI