Tigers snub peace brokers, Lanka deadlock continues

COLOMBO: In a setback to Norway's efforts to save the troubled ceasefire in Sri Lanka, the Scandinavian peace envoys returned empty-handed from the rebel-held territory on Saturday after the Tamil Tigers refused to see them.

The head of the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission, Ulf Henricsson, and a Norwegian diplomat returned to Colombo without meeting the Tiger leadership in the guerrilla-held political capital Kilinochchi after spending the night there, diplomats said.

"Henricsson returned to Colombo this morning after spending overnight in Kilinochchi," a diplomat said. "They have not been able to meet with the Tiger leadership."

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said their commanders did not meet Henricsson because there was no change in their position.

Tiger rebels insisted on helicopter rides to transport their field commanders from the island's east to the north for internal consultations ahead of attending ceasefire talks with the Sri Lankan government in Switzerland.

Colombo initially turned down helicopter transport and instead offered a boat ride that was aborted by the Tigers after accusing the Sri Lanka Navy of excessive interference.

 A compromise offer of private helicopter rides was turned down by Tigers who insist the military must give them a ride.  The Tigers put off the Swiss talks, initially due to start on April 19, by five days. Later, they said they had indefinitely postponed their participation until the transport issue was resolved.