There appeared to be progress Thursday in the long-running dispute between the Harper government and the opposition over access to uncensored Afghanistan detainee documents.

MPs from all parties met to discuss how they can move forward after a historic ruling by the Speaker of the House of Commons. Peter Milliken ruled Tuesday that parliamentarians have an absolute right to see any documents they like - uncensored.

He gave both sides two weeks to work out a deal that allows access to the documents, while protecting national security.

Liberal MP Ralph Goodale said all parties in Thursday's talks showed a spirit of willingness to reach an agreement and there was no confrontation.

"The better approach is to have all of us working at this together around that table," he said.

"Insofar as the first meeting goes, that was the style of the meeting and the style of conversation. It was not, at this stage, confrontational. And I hope that we can keep that tone."

Harper's communications director, Dimitri Soudas, called it a "productive first meeting."

"Ministers (Jay) Hill and (Rob) Nicholson went to the first meeting with a spirit of openness in order to reach a compromise while respecting the government's legal obligations," he said in an email.

NDP justice critic Joe Comartin said the Conservatives' tone in the meeting "was much, much better than what we were getting in the House yesterday."

"The attitude was quite dramatically different," he said. "They were open to resolving this. They were expressing commitments to resolve it in a collegial fashion."

Goodale said the group will meet again next week and he's hopeful a deal can be worked out.

"Everything at this stage is on the table."

He did not say what specific proposals were discussed.

One idea being floated is to broaden the mandate of former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci, whom the government appointed to determine which documents can be safely disclosed without damaging national security.

The Bloc Quebecois and NDP apparently have reservations about going this route, since Iacobucci is now working for the government.

"That could happen, but that's not our preference," said New Democrat MP Jack Harris, the party's defence critic. "We don't see that."

Added Goodale about Iacobucci: "That issue has not been resolved."

At the hour-long meeting on the ground floor of Parliament's Centre Block were whips and house leaders from all four parties. Nicholson, who is the Tory justice minister, and Harris were also there.