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LTTE offers conditional ceasefire: Reuters

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said on Monday they were willing to declare a temporary ceasefire if the government agreed to withdraw troops from the northern Jaffna peninsula, a move they said could pave the way for peace talks.

Military officials in Colombo said Sri Lanka was rushing in new weapons and ammunition to its embattled troops in the northern Jaffna peninsula in anticipation of a fresh rebel offensive to recapture their former stronghold.

"The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam wishes to state that it is prepared to declare a temporary ceasefire suspending all armed hostilities against the Sri Lankan armed forces to facilitate the beleaguered government troops to be evacuated safely from the Jaffna peninsula," the rebel group said in a statement from their London office.

The rebels said a positive response to the offer will "create cordial conditions for a permanent ceasefire, peace talks and negotiated political settlement for the Tamil national question", but a rejection could lead to "disastrous consequences of heavy military casualties".

The statement said the ceasefire could come into effect as soon as the Sri Lankan government indicated its willingness.

"We call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to consider our proposal seriously and respond positively without delay," said the LTTE, which has been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in Sri Lanka's north and east since 1983.

It called upon the International Committee of Red Cross to supervise and assist in the evacuation of troops.

Reuters

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