Diplomats rush to save Sri Lanka truce after deadly clashes
Diplomats from Sri Lanka’s key backers held an emergency meeting with Tiger rebels amid fears the country could slip back into war after a day of violence left 18 people dead. Representatives from the United States, the European Union, Japan and Norway — the quartet known as the “Co-Chairs” — held talks with the head of the Tamil Tigers’ political wing, S.P. Thamilselvan. However, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said there was no breakthrough at the meeting at Kilinochchi, 330 kilometres (about 200 miles) north of the capital Colombo. The rebels said the diplomats had expressed “concern over the escalating violence and the necessity to start talks on effective implementation of the ceasefire since it is felt that the ceasefire is running into grave risk.” Full Story