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Sweden's FM denied Sri Lanka visa Sweden's FM denied Sri Lanka visa
(40 minutes later)
Sri Lanka has refused entry to Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt who was to have joined a European diplomatic mission to the country. Sri Lanka has refused an entry visa for Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.
Mr Bildt was to have arrived on Wednesday with David Miliband from the UK and France's Bernard Kouchner. Mr Bildt was to have taken part in a European diplomatic mission. He is recalling Sweden's top diplomat in Sri Lanka for consultation.
Sweden is to recall its top diplomat for consultation, Mr Bildt said. The UK's David Miliband and France's Bernard Kouchner will still go on the mission, which is expected to push for a truce between the army and rebels.
A Sri Lankan foreign ministry official told the BBC this was not a snub but it could not cope with so many high-level delegations at one time. Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said this was not a snub and it could only cope with so many high-level delegations.
Sri Lanka has had tense relations with the Scandinavian former monitors of its peace process but its main problems have been with the major ex-mediator, Norway.
See a map of the region See a map of the region
Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner have not been excluded from the visit. Mr Bildt said they would continue as planned. Sri Lanka has had tense relations with the Scandinavian former monitors of its peace process but its main problems have been with the major ex-mediator, Norway.
Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner are expected to arrive on Wednesday.
Ceasefire pressureCeasefire pressure
Mr Bildt told the AFP news agency: "The Sri Lankan authorities have said that they don't accept me.Mr Bildt told the AFP news agency: "The Sri Lankan authorities have said that they don't accept me.
"I am not persona non grata because they say I am welcome at another time, but I am not intending to take up that invitation," he said."I am not persona non grata because they say I am welcome at another time, but I am not intending to take up that invitation," he said.
Mr Bildt said the Sri Lankan action was "exceedingly strange behaviour" and that he was recalling the top Swedish diplomat in Sri Lanka, charge d'affaires Borje Mattsson, for consultation.Mr Bildt said the Sri Lankan action was "exceedingly strange behaviour" and that he was recalling the top Swedish diplomat in Sri Lanka, charge d'affaires Borje Mattsson, for consultation.
The UN's John Holmes has visited civilian camps in VavuniyaThe UN's John Holmes has visited civilian camps in Vavuniya
The senior Sri Lankan foreign ministry official told the BBC the country could not cope with all the delegations when facing the challenge of taking care of tens of thousands of civilians displaced by the war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. A senior Sri Lankan foreign ministry official told the BBC the country could not cope with all the delegations when facing the challenge of taking care of tens of thousands of civilians displaced by the war with the Tamil Tiger rebels.
The official said there had been an invitation to Mr Bildt for next month.The official said there had been an invitation to Mr Bildt for next month.
Wednesday's 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 the rebels. European Union foreign ministers on Monday joined the UN in calling for a ceasefire in the north-east, where the army is battling the rebels.
European Union foreign ministers on Monday joined the UN in the call for the truce.
Diplomatic efforts to bring more help for the civilians in the war zone have so far made little progress.Diplomatic efforts to bring more help for the civilians in the war zone have so far made little progress.
The United Nations top humanitarian envoy, John Holmes, said on Monday that he had failed to secure agreement from the government on access to civilians.The United Nations top humanitarian envoy, John Holmes, said on Monday that he had failed to secure agreement from the government on access to civilians.
The Sri Lankan military has restricted the rebels to a 12 sq km (5 sq m) area of land and believes final victory is near.The Sri Lankan military has restricted the rebels to a 12 sq km (5 sq m) area of land and believes final victory is near.
On Monday the Sri Lankan government said it would stop using heavy weapons in the war zone and that its operations were drawing to a close.On Monday the Sri Lankan government said it would stop using heavy weapons in the war zone and that its operations were drawing to a close.
However, a Tigers spokesman in the conflict zone, Puleedevan, told the BBC that troops had begun mortar, artillery and rocket fire early on Tuesday morning.However, a Tigers spokesman in the conflict zone, Puleedevan, told the BBC that troops had begun mortar, artillery and rocket fire early on Tuesday morning.
Speaking for the Sri Lankan army, Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said no heavy weapons had been used.Speaking for the Sri Lankan army, Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said no heavy weapons had been used.
There is no way of confirming the reports as independent journalists are denied access to the war zone.There is no way of confirming the reports as independent journalists are denied access to the war zone.
The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority since 1983.The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority since 1983.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the war, but that figure could now be far higher.More than 70,000 people have been killed in the war, but that figure could now be far higher.
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