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LTTE calls off ceasefire

In a major setback to the peace process in Sri Lanka, the LTTE called off its four-month-old unilateral ceasefire on Monday.

An LTTE statement from its clandestine headquarters in the Vanni region of northern Sri Lanka blamed the government's consistent refusal to reciprocate its truce offer and continuing air and sea attacks for the decision.

"We are compelled to make this painful decision as a consequence of the hardline, intransigent attitude of the Sri Lankan government, which has not only refused to reciprocate positively to our peace gesture, but intensified land, sea and air attacks, causing heavy casualties on our side," it said.

The militant outfit had announced its ceasefire first on Christmas eve last year and extended it thrice until midnight Tuesday.

While withdrawing the ceasefire, the Tamil Tigers said they remained committed to peace and would continue to cooperate with Norway's peace initiative to reach a political settlement to the 'Tamil national conflict'.

The rebels, who have been suffering serious casualties in the last few weeks in air strikes and sea battles, said "It has become impossible to contain the military assaults of the enemy with our self-restrained defensive tactics without resorting to counter-offensive operations."

Accusing the security forces of exploiting the truce to their own 'military advantage', the statement said it would not be possible to sustain the self-imposed truce any more.

Describing the Christmas-eve truce announcement as a 'gesture of peace and goodwill', the LTTE said the Chandrika Kumaratunga government had rejected it as a 'political stunt' and continued its offensive operations.

The rebel group was bitter about the role of the 'international community, particularly the US, Britain, India and European nations in not utilising their influence to get Sri Lanka to reciprocate the ceasefire declaration."

"Instead of commending and promoting our peace offensive, some international governments have imposed proscription and other restrictions against us, whereas the other party in the conflict (the government) is being provided with financial assistance, military aid and training facilities," it said.

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