India to free rebel leaders if ULFA accept talks

GUWAHATI, India, Sunday (AFP)

India's northeastern state of Assam said it would accept a major rebel group's demand to free four of its jailed leaders if the outfit agreed to peace talks with New Delhi.

"We're ready to release some jailed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leaders," Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said in Assam's main city, Guwahati.

"We're prepared to walk the extra mile to facilitate talks with ULFA."

Last Monday the outlawed group, which has been battling for an independent homeland in Assam since 1979, demanded the release of four jailed leaders as a precondition to holding talks with the Indian government.

The government has formally invited ULFA for talks aimed at ending years of deadly insurgency in the region.

"We require at least 10 members of our central committee to discuss New Delhi's offer for holding talks. Right now only six members are free and the rest are in jail," ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah said in a statement.

"We want four of our central committee leaders released unconditionally to enable us to sit together and discuss the government's offer for talks."

At least 10 top ULFA leaders are in prison in India. Gogoi said the state government was keen to grab the chance for peace.

"We don't want to put any hurdles (in the way of talks) and simply want them to come to the negotiating table," the chief minister said.

"There's a definite forward movement in the peace process. This is the first time ULFA has softened its stand and talked of peace negotiations," he said.