Kilinochchi, July 24: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels called on the government to honour a ceasefire pact on Tuesday but stopped short of saying any delays would stand in the way of planned peace talks to end one of Asia's longest wars. The two sides signed the pact in February to silence the guns that raged for 19 years but delays in implementing some of its confidence-building measures -- with the last deadline of 160 days since the signing due in early August -- have raised concerns that already-postponed direct talks would be put off further.

"We don't want to get into a situation of a quagmire by being technical about 160 days and completion 100 percent," S P Thamilselvan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political wing, said in an interview.

He said although the LTTE was "very happy that both sides have been able to maintain the ceasefire so far, unfortunately the euphoria and enthusiasm that was seen at the beginning has dimmed". Bureau Report