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Sri Lankan Tamil Rebel Leader Caught in Mine blast
A top leader of Sri Lanka's separatist Tamil Tiger rebels was caught in a mine blast in rebel- held territory on Tuesday ahead of Norwegian envoy Erik Solheim's visit to Wanni, the rebel headquarters in the north of the country, the Tamilnet website said on Wednesday.
Thamilchelvam, head of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who was due to hold talks with Solheim, was caught in the blast. His fate was not known.
Norwegian envoy Solheim left capital Colombo on Wednesday afternoon for Wanni to meet rebel leaders, the Norwegian embassy said. He was accompanied by Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo Jon Westborg and another diplomat from Oslo.
One LTTE rebel was killed and two others were wounded in the mine blast on Tuesday afternoon, when they were in a vehicle providing security for Thamilchelvam.
Solheim will travel to Wanni on Thursday. He arrived here on Tuesday in a fresh effort to push for the stalled peace process in the war-torn country where the LTTE rebels have been fighting since 1983 for an independent Tamil homeland in the north and the east.
During his visit here he had talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and members of opposition political parties.
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