Colombo, June 25: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers oppose the media briefings held at the end of each round of peace talks and the "internationalisation" of the Norwegian-brokered process, a pro-rebel newspaper reported today. The London-based Tamil guardian newspaper quoted Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), saying that the group was against the involvement of "powerful extra-territorial forces". Balasingham, during talks with Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim in London Monday, "argued that the facilitators were inclined to work on an agenda to placate the international donor community," the newspaper said.

On Friday, the LTTE demanded a "radical overhaul" of the peace bid and rejected the government's latest offer to save the faltering process which has been deadlocked since April over rebel demands. The Tamil guardian said Balasingham criticised the "extraordinary high profile given to each round of talks propping up international press conferences that generate expectations of substantial breakthroughs within a short period of time."

Balasingham also told the Norwegian envoy that excess internationalisation of the peace process" allowing "powerful extra-territorial forces" to get involved and complicate the process.

The remarks are seen by diplomats here as a reference to the involvement of Japan and the united states which have strongly supported the Norwegian-led initiative and asked the Tigers to return to the negotiating table. Bureau Report