Thursday, September 14 2006 12:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With the Centre set to extend the ceasefire with the outlawed ULFA in Assam till September 20, an inter-ministerial meeting is likely to be held next week to review the peace process in the state.

The ceasefire, which was originally announced on August 13 for 10 days and then extended twice, is now valid till September 15. It is likely to be extended by another five days, home ministry sources yesterday (Sept 13, 2006) said.

The ceasefire is being extended despite reservations from the army, which has warned that the insurgent group is using the suspension of operations against it to regroup and extort money from traders and businessmen.

The truce was intended to help ULFA leaders to come to the negotiating table, and the Centre is awaiting a written commitment from the group about joining direct talks.

However, ULFA has been pressing for the release of five of its senior leaders held in jails in Assam before giving such a commitment.

"Intelligence agencies too have warned that ULFA ha adopted a wait-and-watch policy till elections are over in neighbouring Bangladesh, where it has several bases and many of its leaders are based. The current regime of Khaleda Zia is allegedly patronising leaders of the outfit operating from that country," sources said.