Colombo, Aug 13: A top Norwegian intermediary headed for rebel-held areas in the north today to meet Tamil Tiger leaders in a bid to restart Sri Lanka's peace talks, officials said. Erik Solheim and the Tigers' political wing leader, S.P. Thamilselvan, will discuss a government plan that would give the rebels greater autonomy in the Tamil-dominated northeast, a Norwegian embassy official said on condition of anonymity.
The rebels have demanded their own administration in the northeast as a precondition to resume peace talks with the government that have been stalled since April.
The rebels' defiance of a ruling by European truce monitors to dismantle a military camp set up in government held territory will also be discussed.


Bureau Report