Bodo rebels offered safe passage for Delhi talks

"Leaders of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) who are abroad or within the state could avail the safe passage offer to enable them to come and hold talks with the central government," Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi told journalists in the main city of Guwahati.

"There are many top NDFB leaders in jail now. If they want some of the jailed leaders to be part of the negotiating team, we are ready to release them on parole."

New Delhi has yet to make a formal response to the NDFB's unilateral ceasefire offer which came into effect on October 16 although the state government has welcomed the truce offer.

"We have scaled back military operations against the NDFB and are expecting a formal announcement from the central home ministry shortly on the truce offer," the chief minister said.

"We shall be working out modalities for the ceasefire and possible talks between the NDFB and the central government after consultation with Home Minister Shivraj Patil during my visit to New Delhi Thursday."