Maoists and the political leadership in Nepal have reached an agreement under which the rebels would be included in the Cabinet

nching towards forming a joint government, Maoists and the political leadership in Nepal have reached an agreement under which the rebels would be included in the Cabinet and all property seized by them returned to the owners.

Under the agreement reached at during talks with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at his residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday, Maoist chief Prachanda agreed that the rebels would return the land seized by them and houses belonging to various people and create a conducive atmosphere to hold elections to the Constituent Assembly.

Besides this, a peaceful atmosphere to return displaced persons to their homes would also be created, sources close to Koirala said.

The Prime Minister agreed to include Maoists in the Cabinet soon. The government has also agreed to release some five dozen Maoist cadres who are still languishing in different jails, the sources said.

During the meeting, Prachanda furnished a list of 61 Maoist cadres languishing in various prisons of the country and the Prime Minister has agreed to give directives to immediately release them, Baburam Bhattarai, the number two leader of the CPN-Maoist, said.