Colombo, Aug 10: In a virtual snub to the US, the LTTE rebels have allegedly shot dead a Sri Lankan Army intelligence officer only three days after Washington warned them to stop political killings. A gunman believed to be from the LTTE killed lance Corporal Shanmuganathapillai Vivekanandarajah while he was visiting his mother in the eastern coastal town of Akkaraipattu yesterday, officials said.

The latest killing came only three days after the US asked the LTTE to renounce terrorism, stop political killings and resume peace talks with the Sri Lankan government.
The LTTE has been accused of killing over 35 rival tamils, military and police informants and intelligence officers despite a ceasefire with government forces since February 23 last year.

The US embassy here quoted state department spokesman Philip T Reeker as saying they were concerned that the LTTE was undermining peace prospects in the island. "More than three dozen persons -- all of whom were alleged to be political opponents of the Tamil Tigers or anti-Tiger informants -- have been assassinated in Sri Lanka so far this year," the embassy quoted Reeker as saying.

He said that the Tigers must stop the killings and enter peace talks.

Bureau Report