Lanka to take up LTTE conflict with Norway

The new Lankan Govt will take up the outbreak of clashes between LTTE factions as violation of a truce.

Sri Lanka's new government will take up the outbreak of fighting between Tamil Tiger factions as a violation of a truce with peace broker Norway , the defence ministry said on Saturday.

HT Image

The fighting, which erupted on Friday between the main Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and a renegade faction in the east of the country had caused civilian casualties, the ministry said.

The defence ministry said Colombo would tell the Norwegian Government that the fighting was a violation of a February 2002 truce between the rebels and the Government.

"It is intended to inform the Norwegian facilitators to convey to the LTTE that this is a violation of the ceasefire agreement and the government expects to take up this issue with the LTTE leadership," a ministry statement said.

"The President (Chandrika Kumaratunga) directed the chief of defence staff and service commanders to visit the area and take all necessary steps to enforce law and order," the ministry statement said.

It was not immediately clear how security forces would move to restore law and order as the rebel fighting was concentrated in an area where Government forces have no control.

The renegade rebel fighters led by regional commander V Muralitharan, better known by his nom de guerre Karuna, have suffered at least nine killed and 10 wounded.

However, military sources said at least 20 rebels and two civilians had been killed while many more had been wounded with 4,000 civilians forced to flee their homes in areas where there was fighting.

The clashes were the first in Sri Lanka since the truce went into effect.