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LTTE calls for postponement of Geneva talks

V.S. Sambandan

Stalemate on sea passage ends

COLOMBO: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Thursday called for a postponement of the April 19 Geneva talks. The request was made by its political wing leader S. P. Tamilselvan at a press conference in Kilinochchi on Thursday.

"The Tigers have requested the facilitators to suggest a new date for the talks in Geneva," the TamilNet quoted Mr. Tamilselvan as saying.

The report also said the Colombo-LTTE stalemate on sea passage for the Tigers' eastern commanders ended on Thursday following a suggestion by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that they be transported in "a civilian vessel without Sri Lanka Navy involvement." SLMM's head Ulf Henricsson would also be on board the ferry on Saturday when the rebel sea movement takes place, the report said.

The reason for the call to postpone the talks is that the LTTE would have to conclude a week-long meeting involving the participation of its eastern leadership to arrive at a negotiating position.

Cabinet Ministers on Thursday condemned Wednesday's market bombing as a provocative act by the LTTE, but did not elaborate on the arson attacks.

"There is a magisterial inquiry on and we will wait for the report," Cabinet Minister and member of negotiating team Rohita Bogollogama said when asked about the arson.

According to defence sources, an improvised explosive device, weighing five kg, was triggered near a crowded market place aimed at causing maximum damage ahead of the New Year festivities.

Reports from the north-east said the spate of killings continued on Thursday.

Mine attacks and shootings claimed the lives of at least eight persons on Thursday. These include an attack on LTTE cadres in the rebel-held eastern Batticaloa district .

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