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'Breakthrough' in Sri Lanka talks

<b>Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels say they have reached an agreement to revive stalled talks with the government.</b>

The negotiations would be the first since the rebels walked out of talks a year ago, demanding more autonomy in the north and east.

The announcement came after the Norwegian deputy foreign minister travelled to the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi on Thursday.

The government said earlier that talks would start before the end of July.


The BBC's Frances Harrison in Colombo says that the negotiations will be extremely difficult and a settlement to the island's conflict is still a long way off.

<b>'Big gulf' </b>

Our correspondent says that it looks as if the new government has had to make concessions to the rebels that it bitterly criticised when in opposition.

She says the fact that the Tigers say they have agreed on most of the main issues relating to the resumption of talks is something of an achievement, because it looked as if there was a big gulf between the two sides.

The government said it wanted to hold the negotiations in Sri Lanka, as well as discuss an interim power-sharing arrangement and a final peace settlement.

The Tigers want any meeting to be held abroad, and have rejected the government's agenda.

Tigers spokesman Anton Balasingham says a precise date has not yet been set.

"There are practical problems to be sorted out when and where to hold the talks," said Anton Balasingham, chief negotiator for the rebels.

"The Norwegian government will make an official announcement regarding the basic agreements we have reached regarding the resumption of talks."

The agreement came after the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vidar Helgesen, travelled to Kilinochchi for talks with the Tigers after meeting government ministers on Wednesday.

Government spokesman Reginold Cooray said negotiations with the Tigers would initially be "talks about talks".

"The president is keen to solve the matter through dialogue," he said.

Earlier this week the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse, told the BBC that peace talks will resume before the end of July.

Mr Rajapakse told the BBC Sinhala service that the opposition United National Party had agreed to support the negotiations.

Norway successfully brokered a ceasefire between the rebels and government forces in February 2002 which is still in place.

Diplomats say the foreign minister's visit underscores Norway's commitment to the peace process, and its continuing efforts to bring an end to fighting that has claimed 60,000 lives.

http://news.bbc.co.uk