US asks Tigers to return to talks

The call was made by the US State Department amid a spate of political assassinations blamed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and European Union criticism of the guerrillas for killing opponents and failing to honour promises not to recruit child soldiers.

The Tigers have also refused to accept any counter-proposals from the government to revive peace negotiations stalled since April last year as fears mount the island could slide back into war.

"Assassinations and suicide bombings are unacceptable. The recruitment of child soldiers must cease," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.

He explained that Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage had reviewed the situation in Sri Lanka with US Ambassador in Colombo Jeffrey Lunstead, including "the recurring acts of violence such as assassinations and suicide bombings.

"In light of this discussion, we urge the parties to take steps to work to rebuild trust and schedule the promised talks as soon as possible," Ereli said.

Following an internal split, the Tiger guerrillas have been reportedly behind a spate of killings of rivals in the island's embattled eastern region.

Diplomats said the murders had undermined Norway's attempts to broker peace in Sri Lanka where more than 60,000 people have been killed in ethnic bloodshed since 1972.

Noting that President Chandrika Kumaratunga had shown her desire to move forward on the peace process launched with a 2002 ceasefire, he said the LTTE "needs to respond positively and enter talks with the Sri Lankan government.

"The ceasefire and a return to negotiations represent the best hope for Sri Lanka's future as a peaceful, prosperous, and unified nation," he said.