No agenda for Sri Lanka talks

The Sri Lankan Constitutional Affairs Minister, G.L. Peiris, has said that the governnent and representatives of the Tamil Tigers are still trying to work out an agenda for peace talks aimed at ending the civil war.

The two sides signed a ceasefire four months ago, but have failed to set a date for the opening of negotiations.

Mr Peiris said that the issues being tackled were complex and emotional.

He said that the end of the fighting had already brought significant benefits to people living in the north and east of the country.

The Tamil Tigers have criticised a move by the government to include wider ethnic issues in the talks.

They say they want to focus on setting up an interim council to administer Tamil areas in the north and east.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service