Colombo, Nov 03: The US today urged the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tigers to resume dialogue, saying a negotiated settlement was possible to politically end ethnic bloodshed. The US embassy here said in a statement that it took note of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) counter proposals at the weekend to the government's July 17 offer of power-sharing.

"The embassy urges both parties to build on this step by resuming negotiations in a timely manner," the statement said.

"With a constructive approach and willingness to compromise, we continue to believe that a negotiated solution to the conflict is possible." The US statement came a day before Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was due to hold talks with President George W Bush at the White House. The two leaders had met in the US in July last year.

"We also believe that it is possible for both sides to reach agreement on an interim administration which, over time, must lead into a permanent peace settlement and governmental structure...," the embassy said.

The US banned the Tamil Tigers in October 1997, but Washington has been supportive of Norway's peace brokering efforts and encouraged the Colombo government to end the conflict through negotiations with the tigers.
The Tamil Tigers unveiled Saturday their first ever blueprint for peace under which they seek a majority in an Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) for the war-torn Northeast. Bureau Report