Chairman of the moderate group of the separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said in Srinagar [Images] on Friday the APHC would hold the second round of talks with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] 'shortly'.

He, however, added those talks should not be linked to the round table conference being chaired by the prime minister in Srinagar on May 25.

"The APHC believes the dialogue to be a continuous process. We are, therefore, shortly holding the second round of talks with the prime minister, but these talks should not be linked to the round table conference," Mirwaiz told media persons after Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid at Nowhatta in downtown Srinagar on Friday.

"We are not against participation in the RTC in principle, but we would not like to be part of a crowd," he said.

The moderate APHC had the first round of talks with the prime minister early in 2006 after they received a formal invitation from the Prime Minister's Office.