NEW DELHI, May 28 (Xinhuanet) -- The Indian government has invited the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) for talks in a bid to make peace with the last major insurgent group still active in the country's northeast, Indo-Asian News Service reported Saturday.

    An Indian home ministry official in New Delhi said a formal letter was sent from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Friday to ULFA.

    The letter from PMO was handed over to Assamese writer Indira Goswami, who has been requested by ULFA to mediate in the peace talks with New Delhi.

    The PMO's letter is in response to a letter from the ULFA chairman to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh two months ago in which the group offered to hold talks if New Delhi discussed its main demand for "sovereignty" or independence.

    "We are hopeful of a breakthrough. From our side we are ready to extend whatever is required to facilitate negotiations with ULFA," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

    On Wednesday, Indian home ministry and Assam government officials signed a ceasefire pact with the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in New Delhi, another powerfultribal rebel group in Assam.

    In the past two days, ULFA triggered a series of explosions targeting power transformers and road bridges, besides attacking an Indian army convoy and injuring at least four soldiers.

    The ULFA has been fighting for an independent homeland in Assamsince 1979 and is considered one of the most organized rebel outfits in the northeast. Enditem