Norway fails to secure deal to lift Jaffna siege

The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they told a Norwegian envoy to persuade the government to open the land access to the embattled north without conditions.

The government had asked Jon Hanssen-Bauer to secure a deal with the Tigers to allow a convoy of some 400 trucks to travel through rebel-held territory, but the Tigers rejected a one-off convoy.

Instead, the LTTE political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan told Hanssen-Bauer the government must open the disputed A-9 highway to Jaffna, as well as another highway to the island's east.

"He asked for the unconditional opening of the A-9 access to Jaffna and the A-15 access to Vaharai (in the east)," LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan told AFP. "If the government agrees, that would be a confidence-building measure."

There was no immediate comment from the Norwegians, but diplomats close to the process said the envoy failed to end the deadlock.

The defence ministry said the government was not ready to consider the unconditional opening of the highways, fearing the Tigers could use them for military purposes.

The envoy travelled to the rebel-held northern town of Kilinochchi on Friday to discuss faltering peace efforts and the situation in Jaffna, amid fears of full-scale war.

"We are ready with 400 trucks to take supplies to Jaffna and we asked Mr. Hanssen-Bauer to get agreement from the Tigers for this convoy to go through an area held by them," Policy Planning Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

The main road to Jaffna has been cut since heavy fighting erupted along a de facto front line in August. Civilians are living under virtual siege conditions.

More than 3,400 people have died in the ethnic conflict this year as peace talks have collapsed and the rebels have hardened their demands for a separate state.