A top Tamil Tiger rebel negotiator returned to Sri Lanka today amid new efforts by Norwegian peace brokers to revive stalled peace talks and prevent the island from sliding back to war.

European, UN and Arab officials roundly condemned Israel’s missile strike on an apartment building housing a wanted militant leader, terming it unjustified, criminal and counterproductive.

The Sri Lankan government and Tamil rebels have signed a permanent ceasefire as a crucial step toward end their 18 year civil war.