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Sri Lanka rebels ready for talks Tamil Tigers call for full truce
(20 minutes later)
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels say they are ready to negotiate a permanent ceasefire with the government forces. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have called for a permanent internationally supervised truce on the second day of a 48-hour holiday ceasefire.
In a statement, the rebels said they were prepared to open political talks to halt decades of bloodshed.
The government announced a unilateral two-day halt to the fighting beginning Monday, to allow the civilians trapped in the conflict zone to leave.
The Tigers said the two-day truce was an attempt by the authorities to deceive the international community.The Tigers said the two-day truce was an attempt by the authorities to deceive the international community.
In a statement, the rebels said they were ready for an internationally-supervised truce and that such a ceasefire should also contain a base for political solutions. The government announced the halt in the fighting to allow civilians trapped in the conflict zone to leave.
The rebels' statement said they were ready for open political talks to end the decades of bloodshed.
'Ready to comply'
The Tigers said the two-day truce was "merely an act of hoodwinking".
They said there should be an internationally supervised truce and that such a ceasefire should also contain a base for political solutions.
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"The LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam] has for long been requesting a permanent ceasefire encompassing sensible military and political essence. This, the LTTE still reiterates," the statement said. "The LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] has for long been requesting a permanent ceasefire encompassing sensible military and political essence. This, the LTTE still reiterates," the statement said.
"Such a ceasefire should also contain a base for political negotiations," it added.
"The LTTE desires that it should also create a conducive climate for a permanent political resolution to the national question of the Tamils in a peaceful way. The LTTE is ready to comply without any conditions to a ceasefire as described above.""The LTTE desires that it should also create a conducive climate for a permanent political resolution to the national question of the Tamils in a peaceful way. The LTTE is ready to comply without any conditions to a ceasefire as described above."
The statement comes on the second day of the truce announced by the Sri Lankan government. The Tigers have so far failed to demonstrate any genuine goodwill on their part in allowing the civilians to have free movement Rohitha Bogollagama,Sri Lanka foreign minister
The rebels also accused the army of continuing shelling of civilian areas on the first day of the temporary ceasefire. The rebels accused the army of continuing to shell civilian areas on the first day of the temporary ceasefire. The army has denied the accusation.
The army has denied the accusation.
Sri Lankan military officials said that the frontlines in the north-east had remained largely quiet except for some minor clashes.Sri Lankan military officials said that the frontlines in the north-east had remained largely quiet except for some minor clashes.
Aid agencies say that tens of thousands of civilians have been trapped in the no-fire zone - though only 18 came out on Monday. Aid agencies say that tens of thousands of civilians have been trapped in a government-designated no-fire zone - though only 18 came out on Monday.
The government accuses the rebels of holding the civilians against their will, whereas Tamil Tigers say the civilians do not want to leave the safe zone because they fear the military. The government accuses the rebels of holding the civilians against their will. The Tamil Tigers say the civilians do not want to leave the safe zone because they fear the military.
Meanwhile, the British foreign secretary David Miliband has urged Sri Lanka not to return to all-out fighting against the Tamil Tigers after the end of the truce period. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has urged Sri Lanka not to return to all-out fighting against the Tamil Tigers after the end of the truce period.
In a telephone call with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Rohitha Bogollagama, Mr Miliband said the ceasefire could be an important first step towards the end of conflict without further civilian casualties.In a telephone call with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Rohitha Bogollagama, Mr Miliband said the ceasefire could be an important first step towards the end of conflict without further civilian casualties.
The British foreign secretary requested the government of Sri Lanka to consider a longer pause in fighting to enable the civilians to move out of the rebel held areas. The foreign secretary asked the government of Sri Lanka to consider a longer pause in fighting to enable civilians to move out of the rebel-held areas.
In a statement, Mr Bogollagama said "a longer pause was not possible because the Tigers have so far failed to demonstrate any genuine goodwill on their part in allowing the civilians to have free movement".In a statement, Mr Bogollagama said "a longer pause was not possible because the Tigers have so far failed to demonstrate any genuine goodwill on their part in allowing the civilians to have free movement".
The authorities were also concerned that the rebels would use the opportunity to consolidate in the ceasefire zone, the statement added.The authorities were also concerned that the rebels would use the opportunity to consolidate in the ceasefire zone, the statement added.
The minister said the stand of government of Sri Lanka remains unchanged in not recognising the appointment of a special envoy by Britain. He said the stance of government of Sri Lanka remains unchanged in not recognising the appointment of a special envoy by Britain.
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