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Prabhakaran proposes conditions to resume talks

P Mohan Das in Colombo

In a significant development in restive Sri Lanka, Tamil rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran met Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim and made de-escalation of armed hostilities one of the conditions to resume talks with the government.

Dr Solheim, Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka John Westborg and another Norwegian official Kjensti Tromsadal met the LTTE leader in the dense jungles of Wanni on Tuesday, an LTTE statement from London said Wednesday.

Their discussion, described as "'cordial and constructive," covered several pertinent issues, including de-escalation of the armed conflict.

Prabhakaran's meeting with the Norwegian team is his first with an international delegation in the last 14 years, his last being with an Indian team.

The LTTE leader accused the Kumaratunga government of having "unleashed genocide against the Tamil people," causing them enormous sufferings. He alleged the government was not sincere in seeking a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Prabhakaran told the Norwegian team that the de-escalation of the conflict, withdrawal of economic embargo and creation of conditions for normalcy in north-east Sri Lanka were necessary "prerequisites" for a peace dialogue to resume.

Dr Solheim is expected to meet the press later on Thursday.

UNI

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