Sri Lanka mission praises both sides

The Norwegian-led monitoring mission in Sri Lanka has praised both sides in the country's peace process for continuing to move forward despite delays in the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between them.

The head of the mission, Major-General Trond Furuhovde, said the original timetable agreed between the government and the separatist Tamil Tigers may have been too optimistic; he praised the rebels for not insisting on its full compliance as a precondition for direct talks.

Speaking 160 days after the MOU's signing - the original deadline set for the final implementation - Major-General Furuhovde said the vast majority of schools and places of worship, previously occupied by the army, had been vacated.

But he said monitors have continued to receive complaints of extortion and child recruitment by the Tigers.

Peace talks between the two sides are expected to take place later this month or in September.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service