Beijing: Envoys of six countries today starteddiscussing a draft action plan on the first steps towards North Korea's denuclearisation, includingstoppage of Pyongyang'snuclear reactors within two months in exchange for alternative energy sources.

The six-party talks entered the second day here today (Feb 9,2007), withnegotiators bargaining the draft for a possible deal. The draft, prepared by China,host of the talks, was circulated to the delegates last night.

The six-party talks involve North Korea,South Korea, the United States, China,Japan and Russia.

"The Chinese delegation circulated a draft, but we haven't had muchdiscussion yet....It's a process starting with discussion and moving to thewritten form," USchief negotiator Christopher Hill said as the second day of the open-endedtalks resumed here.

"Surely we will have bilateral meetings with all other parties discussingthe draft. It will be a long day," Hill said.

Hill also indicated that the talks would establish "four to six"working groups to deal with the denuclearisation process of North Korea.

Reports said the draft agreement proposed stopping within two months the workof North Korean nuclear sites, including the Yongbyon reactor, and supplying Pyongyang withalternative energy sources.

"The parties will start discussing the draft today," said chiefnegotiator from South Korea,Chun Yung Woo, said, adding the draft lays a "not bad" basis for thenuclear talks.