Sri Lankan Tamil Rebels Extend Unilateral Ceasefire

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 21, 2002

Sri Lankan Tamil Rebels Extend Unilateral Ceasefire

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Sri Lankan separatist Tamil Tiger rebels fighting for independence in the north and east of the country announced on Sunday that they will extend the unilateral ceasefire for one more month to facilitate Norwegian- brokered peace process. In an official statement issued from its headquarters in Vanni in the north of the country, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels said they will extended its unilaterally declared cessation of hostilities for another month from midnight of January 24 to midnight of February 24.

"We have decided to extend the truce for another month as a gesture of peace and goodwill and also to provide further space and time for the Norwegian facilitators to work out terms and conditions for a mutually agreed structured cease-fire," the statement said.

"We fervently hope that the government of Sri Lanka will reciprocate favorably to our goodwill gesture and extend the period of peace accordingly," the LTTE said. The LTTE rebels said that their leadership has informed the Norwegian government of its decision to extend the truce and requested the facilitators to convey the decision to the government.

Both the government and LTTE rebels are observing a month-long ceasefire which is due to end on Thursday.The government has also allowed essential goods to flow to areas controlled by LTTE rebels in the north to help alleviate the sufferings of the minority Tamils.

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