Imphal/Guwahati, November 21: Striking a personal chord, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today invited ULFA in Assam as also other insurgent groups in northeastern states to shun violence and open talks and said Myanmar and Bangladesh have assured their soil would not be used for anti-India operations.

Addressing a press conference in Imphal at the end of his two-day visit to trouble-torn Manipur, Singh said there had been overtures from ULFA about talks "this is an open invitation to all those young men and women who have taken to arms to give up this path and work with us to bring about peace and prosperity in all north eastern states".

"Our Govt is willing to talk to any group which shuns the path of violence and seeks peaceful resolution of all out- standing problems," Singh said.

Later speaking at a rally in Dispur, he struck a personal note by pointing out that he was a Prime Minister from Assam, an obvious reference to his being Rajya Sabha member from the state, and appealed to the youth of the state not to resort to guns and urged them to come forward for talks.

"I appeal to the youth of Assam that you don't have to resort to the gun to achieve your objectives because you have a PM from Assam.

Come join me and help me ignite a new chapter in the long and tortuous history of this beautiful of Assam," Singh said.

Asked about the help the insurgents receive from across the border in Myanmar, the PM said Myanmarese President Gen Than Shwe had recently visited India and assured his country's territory would not be allowed to be used for insurgency directed against India.

To a question about the presence of insurgents camps in Bangladesh, Singh said he had himself taken up the matter with Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and hoped Dhaka would respond constructively to New Delhi's concerns.

"While geography has made us neighbours, history wants us to be good neighbours," he asserted.

Asked about the demand for the demand for withdrawal of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that a "humane" law that protects national security and human rights of the people of Manipur would be in place after the review of the law.

Opposition to the Act had triggered widespread violent protests were held following the alleged rape and killing of Manorama Devi by Assam Rifles personnel.

Singh said he had recognised the depth of feelings the people have about the Act and it was his "sincere desire to find credible ways and means of ensuring that while we protect the interests of national security, we also safeguard the fundamental human rights of our citizens".

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