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Sri Lankan snub to Swedish envoy Sri Lanka snub to Swedish envoy
(20 minutes later)
Sri Lanka has refused entry to Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who was to have joined a European mediating mission, Mr Bildt has said. Sri Lanka has refused entry to Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who was to have joined a European diplomatic mission, Mr Bildt has said.
Mr Bildt had been expected to arrive on Wednesday with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French counterpart Bernard Kouchner. Mr Bildt was to have arrived on Wednesday with David Miliband from the UK and France's Bernard Kouchner.
No reason has yet been given for the refusal by Sri Lanka. No reason has yet been given for the refusal but Sri Lanka has had tense relations with the Scandinavian former monitors of its peace process.
However Sri Lanka has had tense relations with the Scandinavian former monitors of its peace process. Sweden is to recall its ambassador for consultation, Mr Bildt said.
Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner have not been excluded. Mr Bildt said they would continue the visit as planned.
Ceasefire pressureCeasefire pressure
In his blog, Mr Bildt said he had been told by Colombo that he would not be received as part of the European team and that he had been given no explanation.In his blog, Mr Bildt said he had been told by Colombo that he would not be received as part of the European team and that he had been given no explanation.
Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner have not been excluded. He told Associated Press news agency: "This is remarkable. You just don't act this way."
He said Sri Lanka was "trying to say that the British and French visit was planned in advance, but it wasn't".
The diplomatic mission is part of international efforts to put pressure on Sri Lanka to call a ceasefire in the north-east, where the army is battling Tamil Tiger rebels.The diplomatic mission is part of international efforts to put pressure on Sri Lanka to call a ceasefire in the north-east, where the army is battling Tamil Tiger rebels.
The military has restricted the rebels to a small stretch of land and believes final victory is near. European Union foreign ministers on Monday joined the UN in the call for the truce.
The Sri Lankan military has restricted the rebels to a small stretch of land and believes final victory is near.
However, there is concern for the tens of thousands of civilians who have either fled the conflict zone or are still trapped there.However, there is concern for the tens of thousands of civilians who have either fled the conflict zone or are still trapped there.