Talks held with Tamil Tiger guerrillas

Three government representatives in Sri Lanka have travelled to rebel-held territory to hold the first talks with Tamil Tiger guerrillas in seven years.

The head of the Peace Secretariat, the government body dealing with the peace process, met the leader of the rebels' political wing. The meeting was to discuss matters concerning a key highway that links the northern Tamil heartland with the rest of the country, to pave the way for increased trade and free movement of people, an official says.

The road was opened last month as part of a cease-fire agreement signed between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam on February 22.

The agreement was brokered by Norway. A dispute has arisen, however, about a public bus service that runs through rebel territory. Scandinavian monitors say the two parties had to resolve the matter.