Talks only if the LTTE lay down arms, President tells UN
[September 25 2008] 

<p>President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations in New York yesterday, said his government would be ready to hold talks with the LTTE only if the terrorists decommission their arms and dismantle their military. 

<p>He said the Government would not allow the LTTE to hold the Tamil community in the North hostage and deny their democratic rights. 

<p>"Our Government would only be ready to talk to this illegal armed group when it is ready to commit itself to decommissioning of its illicit weapons and dismantling of its military capability, and return to the democratic fold," President said.