LTTE ready to re-enter peace talks

The LTTE has told the government that it was willing to re-enter the peace negotiations.

LTTE political Chief S. P. Thamilselvan has conveyed this message to Peace Secretariat Chief Dr. Palitha Kohona through the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.

Dr. Kohona said he received a message through the ceasefire monitors.

"We welcome it, the government is ready to resume negotiations as soon as possible," the Peace Secretariat Chief said when asked about his reply to the LTTE offer.

"At the same time, I wished they were sincere in their offer," he added.

The Tiger offer came in the wake of the aborted LTTE bid to overrun Muhamalai and Nagar Kovil Forward Defence Line (FDL) on Friday night. Heavy fighting in the Nagar Kovil- Muhamalai Forward Defence Line killed 27 security forces personnel and injured 70.

Meanwhile, Donor Co-Chairs yesterday urged the two parties to halt hostilities and return to the negotiation table.

"The Co-Chairs call on the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to cease hostilities immediately and return to the negotiation table," the Co-Chairs said in a statement issued from the US Embassy in Colombo.

"Both parties should make the utmost effort to prevent a further escalation of violence and loss of life," it added. The Co-Chairs also call for an international investigation into the killing of 100 Muslims and murder of 17 NGO workers in Mutur.