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Pressure on LTTE to return to talks, says U.S. envoy

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: New U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert O. Blake Jr claimed here on Tuesday that Norway is "persuading" LTTE to return to the negotiating table with "credible guarantees" that it would not use fresh talks to strengthen itself militarily.

At his maiden news conference here, Mr. Blake said he was not aware of any "formula" proposed by the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government for re-commencement of talks, post-Brussels declaration by the Co-Chairs. In response to a question, the envoy said the Co-Chairs were no in position to furnish guarantees on behalf of the Tigers and such guarantees would be credible only when they came from the LTTE. Earlier in the day the Government Defence spokesperson and Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters that while his Government was committed to peace, resumption of talks without guarantees was not practicable.

Massacre condemned

Mr. Blake, who took part in the recent Co-Chairs conference, said his Government, supports strongly Norway's facilitation and the role played by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission. "The Co-Chairs believe there is now a significant opportunity for peace. We hope both parties will embrace that opportunity", he said.

Separately, the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, a network of more than 70 organisations, condemned the massacre of the eleven 11 Muslim workers who had gone to repair the irrigation sluice gate at Raddala in Pottuvil on Monday.

"There are doubts as to who would have perpetrated this dastardly massacre of innocent Muslims who are in their prime of youth", it said.

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