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Solheim to make another bid for peace

Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim is expected to be in the island Sunday to make yet another attempt to convince the Sri Lankan Government and the banned separatist outfit Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to start peace talks, instead of "flexing their muscles".

Sources said Solheim would convey to the government the LTTE's stand that the terrorist organisation would not extend the unilateral ceasefire beyond Janauary 24 if the Lankan army continues to intensify military aggression in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

But the government had informed the Norwegian facilitator that the LTTE should prove its sincerity to hold talks and suggest certain concrete proposals and ''until then there will not be any ceasefire''.

LTTE's London-based spokesman Anton Balasingham was quoted, by the Jaffna-based Tamil paper Uthayan as stating that the LTTE would consider peace talks only after pushing the Sri Lankan troops to their former positions''.

The LTTE had announced a ceasefire from the midnight of December 24 till January 24.

UNI

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