Tamil Tigers agree to talks in Switzerland

Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels said today they have agreed to hold talks with the government in Switzerland in February, raising hopes that the country may avoid sliding back to war.

The rebels’ approval came after Norwegian envoy Eric Solheim met with the reclusive leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels. Rebel negotiator Anton Balasingham said the 2002 ceasefire would be reviewed at the talks.

Solheim met Velupillai Prabhakaran in the rebel-held city of Kilinochchi for about 2 1/2-hours and delivered a message from President Mahinda Rajapakse, who had earlier agreed to resume peace talks that broke down in 2003 over rebels’ sweeping demand for autonomy.

Solheim is expected to meet with Rajapakse later today after returning to Colombo.

The rebels want to create a separate homeland for Sri Lanka’s 3.2 million Tamils, saying they are discriminated by the majority Sinhalese.