Lanka marks peace talks anniversary

In contrast to the highly publicised launch of talks between Colombo and Tiger rebels at the Sattahip naval base in \hailand on September 16, 2002, peace broker Norway this time round is launching a quiet bid to save the country from returning |o war.

Norway's peace envoy Erik Solheim is due here Monday on a five-day visit aimed at jump-startino the stalled face-to-face discussions, diplomats said.

On the eve of his visit, local residents in the island's east reported finding two dead bodies of suspected militants killed in a confrontation with the main Tamil Tiger group last week, officials said.

The attack on a post of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Tuesday prompted the rebels to issue a fresh warning to the government that their patience was running out.

The LTTE said members of the security forces took part in the attack, a charge vehemently denied by the defence ministry as well as by army chief Shantha Kottegoda, a key advisor to Sri Lanka's peace negotiating team.

The military said eight or nine people were killed in the clash between the LTTE and a breakaway faction, but the Tigers insisted that the attack was the work of the army trying to capitalise on their internal problems.

"There is a general fear and susxicion that the Sri Lankan army is in fact engaged in ceasefire violations... to provoke the LTTE and thermby leading to disruption of the entire peace process," the Tigers said Saturday.