Peace envoy postpones visit to Tamil areas

A Norwegian peace envoy today postponed his visit to the northern stronghold of rebel Tamil Tigers after a request by the Sri Lankan government, a spokesman for the Norwegian Embassy said.

Separately, at least seven combatants were killed in eastern Sri Lanka today, the military said.

Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer is in Sri Lanka for talks with government and rebel officials about the country’s faltering 2002 ceasefire, amid the collapse of peace talks and a surge in violence that has killed 3,500 fighters and civilians since December last year.

He was scheduled to travel to northern Kilinochchi for talks with leaders of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE.

“We have been told not to visit the LTTE until the government holds its Cabinet meeting,” embassy spokesman Erik Nurnberg said. He did not elaborate.

The request follows a suspected rebel suicide bombing last week that apparently targeted the country’s defense secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, who is also the president’s younger brother.

Three people were killed and 14 wounded, although Rajapakse escaped unhurt.

The government blamed Tamil Tigers but the rebels have made no comment on Friday’s attack.