A group of Ugandan officials have met rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) commanders near the border with Sudan, aiming at ending the 18-year insurgency in the north, according to a report reaching here on Wednesday. The meeting took place late on Tuesday between a delegation including peace negotiator Betty Bigombe, government officials, legislators and others, and seven rebel commanders led by spokesman Brigadier Sam Otto Kolo.This was the second meeting between Bigombe and rebel spokesman Kolo since the ceasefire between the Ugandan government and the rebels started to take effect on November 15. Acholi cultural leaders and elders led by Bigombe met Kolo on December 7 at Palabek in Kitgum district. Minister of Internal Affairs Ruhakana Rugunda, who has been appointed as head of the government peace team, was not among the officials who held talks with the rebels on Tuesday. However, Rugunda described Tuesday's meeting as "peace process making progress," saying that "the meeting meant to build confidence and reconciliation have taken place." According to an earlier report, the government peace team led by Rugunda will travel to Kitgum on Wednesday to join Bigombe. "The LRA reaffirmed during the meeting its commitment to ending 18 years of civil war in the region and urged the government to extend the ceasefire zone," said an official who attended the meeting.