``The state needs a solution as early as possible, and while the government is ready to start the process of negotiations, it is for the ULFA leaders to decide and come forward,'' Mahanta said.

He claimed the over-all situation in the state had improved dramatically during the past one year. On Friday, state home secretary M K Baruah had stated that insurgency-related incidents had come down by nearly half over the past year, while the number of civilians killed had recorded about 60 per cent decline.

Meanwhile, Governor S.K. Sinha has announced that the government would ensure safepassage for ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa (real name Rajiv Rajkonwar) if the latter wished to visit his native village for seeing his ailing father.

Sinha made this announcement when he called on Uma Rajkonwar, the nonagenarian father of the ULFA chief, and inquired about his health. Rajkonwar, a freedom fighter, has not seen his youngest son for over a decade now after the government declared ULFA as a banned outfit.

Mahanta confirmed that the Governor's announcement was preceded by a meeting between him and Sinha.