Tigers reject Asian venue for talks

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said any discussions with the Sri Lankan government must be in Oslo as originally proposed by Norway but rejected by Colombo.

However, as a compromise, the Colombo government last week said it was ready to hold talks at an Asian venue and Japan's peace envoy Yasushi Akashi six days ago offered Tokyo as a venue.

"There is no change in our position with regard to the venue for talks and we stand by the Norwegian facilitator's original suggestion that the talks on effective implementation of the ceasefire takes place in Oslo," said LTTE's political leader S. P. Thamilselvan.

Thamilselvan, in a statement on his political wing's website, said fresh talks must ensure "effective implementation of the ceasefire" especially ending recent escalated violence in the country.

At least 35 people, including 18 government soldiers and two policemen, have been killed this month alone in bloodshed linked to the conflict.

The Sri Lankan government called for talks with the Tigers to review their truce after the August 12 assassination of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. Colombo blamed the Tigers, a claim rejected by the guerrillas.

Peace talks between the two sides have remained deadlocked since April 2003 and diplomatic efforts to resume a dialogue remain inconclusive.

Earlier the Scandinavian ceasefire monitors in Sri Lanka blamed Tamil Tigers for shooting at an unarmed military helicopter earlier this week and said the attack seriously undermined the fragile truce.