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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 22, 2002

S.Lankan PM Says Ban on Tamil Rebels Might Be Lifted

Sri Lankan Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe told parliament on Tuesday that the ban on separatist Tamil Tiger rebels might be lifted to clear way for talks with the rebels to end the long-running ethnic war in the country.


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Sri Lankan Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe told parliament on Tuesday that the ban on separatist Tamil Tiger rebels might be lifted to clear way for talks with the rebels to end the long-running ethnic war in the country.

Wickremasinghe said that amending the regulations that banned the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) locally in 1998 maybe necessary in order to begin internationally-backed peace talks with the rebels.

He stressed that this is the last chance for peace in the country.

In his latest request last Wednesday, the political wing leaderof the LTTE, Thamilselvan, told reporters in Mallavi town in the rebel-held northern Wanni region that they would start peace talkswith the government only after they are recognized as a legitimatepartner.

The LTTE have been fighting against government forces since 1983 in the north and east of the country in an attempt to create an independent Tamil homeland there. More than 64,000 people have been killed in the fighting.

Both the government and the Tamil rebels are observing their unilateral ceasefire which is to be extended till February 24.





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