Category: Politics

Nov 3, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan war planes pounded suspected Tamil Tiger targets for a third straight day Friday after the defence ministry charged that the guerrillas were preparing for a major offensive Sri Lanka’s defence ministry said supersonic jets hit two locations of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the eastern […]

Nov 2, 2006 (AFP) – A soldier was killed and two injured as Sri Lankan troops and Tamil rebels traded fire across a de facto front line in the embattled Jaffna peninsula Thursday, the defence ministry said.The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sparked the battle and security forces retaliated in kind, the ministry […]

Nov 2, 2006 (AFP) – At least five people were killed Thursday when Sri Lankan war planes bombed a house near the main hospital inside rebel-held territory in Kilinochchi, Tiger guerrillas said. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said Israeli-built jets carried out two sorties over the town of Kilinochchi and the blasts […]

Nov 1, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military Wednesday accused Tamil Tiger rebels of carrying out artillery and mortar attacks against government lines in the east of the island, despite a pledge to stick to a truce.A military spokesman said a government soldier was hurt overnight Tuesday in three hours of strikes by the Liberation […]

Oct 31, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government said Tuesday that it was only willing to open a crucial highway linking the northern Jaffna peninusla and the south of the island if Tamil Tiger rebels gave up violence.The conflict in Sri Lanka is Asia’s longest and bloodiest separatist war, claiming over 60,000 lives since the […]

Oct 31, 2006 (AFP) – At least five people were reported killed and six others injured in separate clashes Tuesday between Tamil rebels and government troops in north and east Sri Lanka, defence officials said.A soldier was killed and three others injured when a mine exploded on a truck carrying troops for leave in the […]

GENEVA, Oct 30, 2006 (AFP) – Talks between Sri Lanka’s warring parties here over the weekend failed to buy time to save their troubled truce, diplomats and officials said amid fears of more bloodshed at home.Peace broker Norway was unable to clinch an agreement Sunday on resolving urgent humanitarian needs, political issues as well as […]

Oct 30, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military accused Tamil rebels of firing artillery at troops in the embattled Jaffna peninsula Monday after weekend peace talks between the combatants in Geneva failed.The conflict in Sri Lanka is Asia’s longest and bloodiest separatist war, claiming more than 60,000 lives since the LTTE launched its bid for […]

GENEVA, Oct 30, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s rebel Tamil Tiger negotiators have cut short a planned visit to truce monitors Norway and Iceland, and will return home immediately after Swiss peace talks failed, the top guerrilla leader said Monday.Chief negotiator of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), S.P. Thamilselvan, told AFP they scrapped […]

GENEVA, Oct 30, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s latest round of peace talks ended in failure in Geneva over the weekend sparking fears of renewed bloodshed in Asia’s longest-running separatist conflict.The Sri Lankan government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) disagreed on key issues that dogged the Norwegian-brokered talks even before they […]

GENEVA, Oct 28, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s warring parties resumed peace talks in Geneva on Saturday and received a stern warning that their country will lose foreign aid unless killings stop in Asia’s bloodiest internal conflict. .Updated Peace broker Norway said the international community had virtually placed the Sri Lankans on notice to show […]

GENEVA, Oct 29, 2006 (AFP) – Peace brokers struggled to save Sri Lanka’s collapsing ceasefire as critical talks between the warring parties entered the second and final day Sunday in Geneva with both sides sticking to their guns.Tiger rebels said the first day’s outcome was “zero” with no agreement on addressing the urgent needs of […]