Tamil Tiger rebels on Monday warned they would fight if their demands to establish a sovereign Tamil state in Sri Lanka were not met.
In their first reaction to parliamentary elections won by hardline President Chandrika Kumaratunga's political alliance, the Tigers said minority Tamils made it clear they wanted autonomy.
The rebels said they hoped a political solution would be found.
If not, "the Tamil people will fight to establish the Tamil sovereignty in their homeland," a pro-rebel TamilNet Website said, quoting a guerrilla communiqué.
The rebels' proxy party, Tamil National Alliance, emerged as the third largest party in Friday's vote with 22 seats in the 225-member Parliament.
Kumaratunga's political alliance garnered 105 and outgoing prime minister's party secured 82 seats.