New Delhi, July 27: The Centre tonight decided to restrict the ceasefire with NSCN (I-M) to Nagaland and not extend it to other North Eastern States in the wake of continuing violent opposition in Manipur.

Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee told a meeting of Chief Ministers of North Eastern States that the words without territorial limits in the agreement reached between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M) on June 14 would be deleted and the status quo ante of June 14 would be restored.

Announcing this, Home Minister LK Advani said Government representatives have already discussed the issue with NSCN (I-M) which was agreeable to the proposal.

The over two-hour-long meeting was attended by Manipur Governor Ved Marwah and Chief Ministers Tarun Gogoi (Assam), Manik Sarkar (Tripura), Zoramthanga (Mizoram), Mukut Mithi (Arunachal Pradesh), EK Mawlang (Meghalaya) and SC Jamir (Nagaland).

Advani, who refused to reply to questions, said the Prime Minister discussed the issue with all the Chief Ministers and decided that the three words �without territorial limits� would be deleted and status quo ante of June 14 restored.

The decision comes in the backdrop of talks held in Amsterdam in the past two days between Centre's interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah and NSCN(IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah.

Barring Nagaland, the Chief Ministers of other States are understood to have urged the Prime Minister to take steps to limit the ceasefire within Nagaland by removing these words.

The Nagaland Chief Minister is understood to have opposed any review saying peace will prevail in his State only with the cessation of hostilities.

Following continuing large-scale unrest and arson in Manipur over the extension of the ceasefire's area coverage, Vajpayee had announced the Government would review the entire truce accord.

After the talks in Amsterdam, Indian negotiators and NSCN(IM) leaders came out with a joint statement which said both Government and NSCN(I-M) are confident that progress would be made through better understanding of the nature of the issue and with mutual trust.

It is also agreed that the talks on substantive issues will be taken up as frequently as possible so as to expedite the pace of the peace ,process, the statement said, adding both sides had decided to make the ceasefire monitoring group more broad-based by including respectable Non Governmental Organizations and members of civil society as observers.

Our Staff Reporter adds that before the meeting delegations of MPs and MLAs Forum, Manipur met some of the Chief Ministers of the region to seek their support on the issue.

In the morning a seven member delegation met the Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar while they met the Chief Ministers of Mizoram, Zoramthanga; EK Mawlong (Meghalaya); Mukut Mithi (Arunachal) and Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi.

During the meeting they explained the present situation in Manipur and the Chief Ministers gave a patient hearing to them.

According to Manipur Information Centre Delhi, the responses of the Chief Ministers were very positive.

The MPs and MLAs Forum, Manipur had thanked the Chief Ministers of the North Eastern Region for extending their support on the issue.

AMSU and KSO have welcomed the development.

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