In Nepal, the UCPN (Maoist) handed over the keys of the arms containers to the Special Committee members at cantonment sites. On Thursday, the Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held talks with the senior commanders of the Maoist following the decision of the Prime minister led Special Committee on Wednesday. Spokesman of the PLA, Chandra Prakash Khanal said that all the divisions have been directed to bring the cantonments, combatants and the containers under the Special Committee. Meanwhile, a faction of the Maoists led by Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya has demanded the scrapping of the decision and called an hour long vehicle strike Friday morning. Around 19,000 combatants are in seven cantonments and 21 sub-camps across the country with more than 3,400 weapons following the Compressive Peace Accord reached in 2006.The Special Committee is entrusted with supervision integration and rehabilitation the Maoists' Peoples Liberation. The United States of America has welcomed the decision taken by the UCPN (Maoist) to hand over the keys to the arms containers to the Special Committee. In a statement, the US Embassy said it is a promising step and hopes it signals the commitment of the UCPN (maoist) to continue moving forward to complete the peace process.