Opposition parties say there is an "emerging consensus" coming out of all-party meetings to determine what access MPs will have to thousands of pages of government documents related to Afghan detainee transfers.

In this July 2009 file photo, a man Afghan authorities suspect of insurgency-related activities is interrogated during a joint Canadian-Afghan army patrol in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province. (Colin Perkel/Canadian Press)NDP defence critic Jack Harris said it appears the parties will reach a resolution to the impasse over the documents by Friday, but said no agreement has been reached yet.

But Liberal House leader Ralph Goodale described a possible deal by Friday as a "hope, and not a deadline."

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa after Monday's meeting, Harris and Goodale both said party representatives are discussing the creation of a small committee of MPs from each party to review the documents.

"That is one option and we think it's an attractive option," Goodale said.

"We haven't seen the pushback from the government on what appears to be an emerging consensus about how to do this," Harris said.

Bloc Québécois House Leader Pierre Paquette noted the "very good will" from all parties during the meeting, saying they've already made plans to get together later this week.

Opposition parties have berated Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government for months for refusing to issue unredacted versions of the documents, which discuss the transfer of detainees captured by Canadian Forces in Afghanistan to Afghan custody. The government has refused, citing national security.

Commons Speaker Peter Milliken ruled last week that the government was wrong in refusing to produce uncensored documents. He called on all parties to find a solution within two weeks that would balance national security concerns with Parliament's right to examine the material.

'Incremental progress': Tories' Hill

Government House Leader Jay Hill said the mood in Monday's meeting was "very positive" and described "incremental progress," but would not say whether the Conservatives would agree to the formation of a select committee of MPs.

"We've determined to go away from today's meeting and give some more thought, and I think the other three parties involved in discussions have done likewise," he said.

Opposition parties have tried to obtain the uncensored papers to assist a parliamentary committee's investigation into allegations that Canadian officials knew transferred prisoners were being tortured by Afghan officials. Government and military officials — past and present — have vehemently denied the allegations.