KATHMANDU, May 4: Nepal’s Maoists agreed on Thursday to hold talks on ending their decade-long insurgency, clearing the way for the release of hundreds of jailed fighters.

The new interim cabinet on Wednesday announced an indefinite ceasefire and removed the terrorist tag from the Maoists to try to kick-start talks and bring peace to Nepal.

The Maoists called their own three-month ceasefire last week and on Thursday agreed to discussions on ending the revolt in which over 12,500 people have dead.

It is the third time that the government and rebels have called ceasefires at the same time and tried to start peace talks, but on previous occasions, negotiations broke down and the country was plunged back into conflict.

“We are entering into a dialogue process, feeling deep responsibility for people’s aspirations towards democracy and peace,” said the rebel chief Prachanda, whose name means “the fierce one.”

“We hope that the peace talks will not fail this time.”

Cabinet minister Gopal Man Shrestha said earlier that once talks start, the government would release rebel leaders from jails across the country.

The Royal Nepalese Army website details 53 people on its “most wanted” list of Maoists, headed by Prachanda.

Once deadly foes, the political parties and the Maoists late last year brokered a loose alliance against King Gyanendra to challenge his absolute rule proclaimed in February 2005. They brought hundreds of thousands onto the streets.—AFP