NEW DELHI, Oct. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The government of northeastern Indian state of Assam hailed Saturday the decision by an influential tribal separatist group to agree to a cease-fire and hold peace talks with New Delhi.

    The outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) announced Friday that it will observe a six-month cease-fire from Oct. 15, raising hopes for an end to two decades of insurgency in the region, the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) reported.

    "The NDFB's offer is a positive move and a step in the right direction. We welcome the announcement," IANS quoted Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi as saying in Guwahati in Assam.

    NDFB, formed in 1986, has been fighting a guerrilla war to carve out an independent homeland for the Bodo tribes in Assam.

    "Regarding cessation of security operations from our side, we shall take appropriate steps the moment we get a direct communication from NDFB expressing their offer for a cease-fire," the chief minister said.

    The move by NDFB comes days after a string of blasts last weekend blamed on the rebels left 53 people dead in various parts of the state.

    "In response to the chief minister's offer for a cease-fire, the NDFB has decided to accept the offer for a period of six months effective Oct. 15 to create a congenial atmosphere for talks," D. R. Nabla, president of the rebel group, said in a statement.

    "All the commanders of the Bodoland army have been asked to stop hostilities against India," he added.

    On Sept. 30, Gogoi offered a conditional cease-fire to the group and the other rebel group in the state, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), asking them to respond by Oct. 15.

    "We now hope the ULFA too would come to the negotiating table like NDFB and offer a cease-fire," Gogoi said.

    ULFA and NDFB are two powerful separatist groups in northeast India.

    Around 10,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency and ethnic violence in Assam during the past two decades. Enditem