Sri Lanka's Rebels Warn No Extension of Unilateral CeasefireSri Lanika's separatist Tamil Tiger rebels warned on Friday that there is no extension of their self-imposed one-month ceasefire which will expire next Wednesday unless government forces suspend their military operations in the north of the country.The theotrician of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) told the Tamil newspaper Uthayan that whether or not they will renew the ceasefire depends on the government's next move. According to him the Norwegian envoy has proposed for confidence building measures between the two sides and they have given their consent to these proposals. He said that in line with the Norwegian proposals the government is to lift the embargo on rebel-held territories in the north and the Tiger rebels are to stop their attack in the capital of Colombo. Government forces launched Tuesday their first attack in the new year against LTTE rebels in the northern Jaffna peninsula and the fierce fighting inflicted heavy casualties on both sides. The latest fighting followed Norwegian envoy Erik Solheim's two- day visit here last week during which he tried and failed to revive peace process in the country. At a news briefing on Thursday Media Minister Anura Yapa reiterated government position on LTTE truce offer by saying that military operation against LTTE will continue until the rebels bring some concrete proposals to the negotiating table. |
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