LTTE rejects new plan to end peace deadlock

The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they would open talks only on the basis of a self-rule plan unveiled by them in October last year seeking an "Interim Self-Governing Authority" (ISGA) in embattled areas.

"Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have dismissed new government proposals to restart peace talks," the BBC reported. The Tigers said peace talks could only resume on the basis of proposals put forward by them.

The BBC's Tamil language service quoted the LTTE's political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan, who is currently visiting Europe, as saying they were shocked by reports of government proposals announced here Thursday.

The government announced that it had finalised its counter proposals and was ready to present them to the Tigers. A state-run media report here said talks could resume early next month.