No homeland for Tamils

Premier Mahinda Rajapakse said he would solve the conflict within a "unitary state," effectively scrapping a deal with the Liberati-on Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels to share power in a federal set-up.

He also said Norway would no longer hold the key role as peace broker.

"I strongly believe in upholding the civil and human rights of all communities, the nation's sovereignty, security and the unitary character of the state," said the prime minister, launching an 87-page manifesto.

Rajapakse, 59, did not answer reporters' questions after giving copies of the manifesto to monks and other religious leaders.

But his spokesman Mangala Samaraweera explained the prime minister opposed Tamil Tiger rebel demands for a traditional homeland for the minority and the right to self-determination.

Rajapakse would also review the role of Norway, which acts as a "peace facilitator", and a Norwe-gian-led truce monitoring mission.

"We all know that the facilitators and the monitors are not doing the job they are supposed to be doing," Samaraweera said, adding they could be replaced or the role of other foreigners enlarged.

Rajapakse's Freedom Alliance had been at loggerheads with Norway since the main opposition United National Party (UNP) entered into an Oslo-brokered truce with Tamil Tiger rebels while in power in February 2002.

The UNP-led government was sacked by President Chandrika Kumaratunga in February 2004 and accused of making too many concessions to the Tigers.

Samaraweera said the premier's peace initiative would involve a cross-section of society if he was returned to power and that he was also hoping to have direct talks with the LTTE.

There was no immediate reaction from the guerrillas.

Rajapakse played down fears that the country could return to war if his party abandoned agreements the previous government had reached with the LTTE to work towards a federal state.

"I am confident that we can achieve peace without returning to war," Rajapakse said. "I intend to begin peace talks with all stake-holders in the conflict to realise this goal."