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US warns Sri Lankan rebels against violating truce with gov't
The United States has warned Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels against violating a truce with the government and hinted that the international crackdown against terrorism could be extended to them.
The US embassy in Colombo says the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were engaging in activities that could jeopardise the open-ended Norwegian-brokered ceasefire which went into effect from February 23rd.
The embassy says there are "credible reports" that Tigers were rearming themselves, had stepped up the recruitment of child soldiers and were extorting money from civilians.
Both the Tigers and the government had been observing unilateral ceasefires since Christmas, but Norway arranged the formal bilateral truce in a bid to clear the way for possible peace talks.
The American officials say continued smuggling of weapons by the tigers could undermine the trust needed to move from a cessation of hostilities to a lasting peace.
12/03/2002 09:08:30 | ABC Radio Australia News
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