Thursday, June 15 2006 14:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal's Government and Maoists today (June 15, 2006) held their second round of peace talks in the capital in efforts to end the decade-old insurgency and bring the rebels into the political mainstream.

The talks between the Government and the Maoists began at 2 pm at Hotel Himalaya in Lalitpur on the outskirts of Kathmandu, a member of the government's negotiating team said.

Maoist Chief negotiator Krishna Bahadur Mahara is leading the rebels team while Home Minister Krishna Sitaula is heading the Government's team during the parleys.

The first round of talks between the Government and the Maoists were held in the Nepalese capital on May 26 in which two sides agreed on a 25-point Code of Conduct to facilitate the peace process.

The rebels' key demand is for a constituent assembly to review the 1990 constitution and abolish the 250-year-old monarchy.

A ceasefire was declared between the rebels and the interim Government after King Gyanendra was forced to end the 14 months of direct rule and pave the way for parliamentary democracy in the country.