The chief minister of an eastern Indian state says a disagreement over the choice of negotiators has delayed talks to free two Italians abducted by Maoists rebels.
Naveen Patnaik said Wednesday that two of the three negotiators proposed by the Maoists were not acceptable to the government of Orissa state. He says one is in jail and the other has refused to be a negotiator.
The Italians were kidnapped a week ago while on a trek through a densely forested area of Orissa.
The rebels have said they will wait till Thursday after which the men will be handed over to rebels in a neighboring state.
The rebels have been fighting in several Indian states for more than four decades demanding land and jobs for farmers and the poor.