Tamils 'committed to peace process'

Tamil Tiger rebels said today they were committed to a Norwegian-brokered cease-fire, allaying fears that a power struggle between Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister would plunge the tropical island back into civil war.

“We are keen to continue with the peace talks,” the rebels’ political wing leader, S.P. Thamilselvan told reporters after two Norwegian peace envoys met with rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran in the northern rebel capital of Kilinochchi.

But the rebels said they would wait until Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister had resolved their political dispute before returning to the peace process.

“Unfortunately the president and the prime minister speak different opinions these days. Unless and until a stable political climate is established in Colombo, we cannot resume the peace talks,” Thamilselvan said.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga last week wrested control of the ministries of defence, interior and media from her rival Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, claiming he had made too many concessions to the Tamil rebels in the peace process.

The president also suspended Parliament and briefly declared emergency rule, triggering fears that the island could be plunged back into civil war.

Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen and special envoy Erik Solheim met with Prabhakaran behind closed-doors in Kilinochchi.