Norway moves to salvage Lankan truce

Norwegian ambassador Hans Brattskar travelled to the town of Kilinochchi for talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) about the deteriorating security climate here as well as in the island's east, officials said.

Peace broker Norway has stepped up efforts to bring the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the LTTE to the negotiating table but its diplomatic efforts so far have drawn a blank.

Kumaratunga sounded a conciliatory note Monday, saying her coalition's local election win Saturday was a mandate to negotiate peace.

But Tamil Tiger rebels accused her government of launching a "proxy war" against them.

Kumaratunga said her leftist alliance won Saturday's elections to six provincial councils because voters endorsed her move to pursue peace talks with the LTTE.