Violence on in Lanka as envoys push for talks

Scores of people have been killed in the past few weeks in the island nation in fresh fighting that has left a 2002 truce in shreds and dimmed hopes of a breakthrough in peace talks in Geneva on Oct. 28-29, the first such dialogue since February.

In the latest clashes, rebels fired mortars at an army base in the eastern Batticaloa district late on Thursday, sparking army retaliation. There were no casualties, the military said.

Both sides also had artillery duels overnight in the northern Jaffna peninsula but no details of casualties were immediately available.

The continuing violence came as US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher is visiting the restive nation where Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting for an independent homeland since 1983 for the ethnic Tamil minority.

Since July, violence has surged leaving around 1,000 people dead, including many soldiers, alarming Colombo's main donors.

"Richard Boucher wants to send a message there should be an immediate cessation of violence," US embassy spokesman Evan Owen said.

"It is more important to talk now than ever as Sri Lanka is in danger of going to all-out war."

Boucher, who met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Thursday, will hold a news conference later on Friday.