Talks between Nepal's government and Maoist rebels began today in a bid to end a conflict in which thousands have died.
The Maoist revolt killed more than 13,000 people and wrecked the economy of one of the poorest countries in the world.
Both sides said they were "very close" to an agreement on the main issues of disarming the rebels and the future of the monarchy, but a pact - expected to be announced yesterday - was delayed because of wrangling over a temporary legislature.
"The agreement was as good as final but members of the ruling seven-party alliance were bargaining among themselves for more seats in the proposed interim parliament," said a rebel spokesman.
"There has to be an agreement today. We can't leave it like this. It will give a wrong message," he said when asked if an accord was possible.
Junior Labour Minister Ramesh Lekhak said that a peace accord - which would include details of arms management, a temporary parliament and an interim government that would include the rebels, was expected to be signed by Maoist chief Prachanda and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
The rebels, fighting since 1996 to topple the monarchy, and the government announced a truce and began negotiations soon after King Gyanendra ceded absolute power following violent street protests in April.
But a dispute over disarming the rebel army had remained a sticking point because the Maoists had refused to lay down their guns before planned elections to a special assembly that would decide whether the Himalayan nation should become a republic.