Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels Thursday extended their unilateral three-month-long truce by a further month, but warned they would pull out unless the government halted its attacks.
The separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said it would continue with a ceasefire, which was due to end on Saturday, despite the latest upsurge in fighting in the embattled northeast.
The LTTE said its move was aimed at helping Norway's attempts to broker peace on the island where more than 60,000 people have been killed during decades of ethnic bloodshed.
"Our decision to cease all armed hostilities for a further period of time was taken in recognition of the collective aspirations of our people for peace, normalisation of civilian life and negotiations on the basis of self-determination," the LTTE said.
The LTTE first announced its ceasefire on Christmas Eve, but the government refused to follow suit saying that a de-escalation of the conflict could be considered only after opening peace talks.
The LTTE said Thursday that 133 of its fighters had been killed since Christmas while they observed a truce. The rebels did not say how many government troops were killed during the same period.
The military has accused the LTTE of over 180 instances of violating their own ceasefire.
The LTTE announcement extending their truce came a day after the rebels and the navy clashed in the northeastern waters leaving 20 combatants dead on both sides – COLOMBO (AFP)
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