Fishing bans eased in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels have agreed to lift fishing restrictions off the country's northern coast.

The agreement to allow fishermen back into four areas was reached during the first meeting of a committee of military representatives from both sides.

The committee was established during peace talks in Thailand which ended a week ago.

Puli Thevan, a Tamil Tiger representative at the meeting, said there was no deal on troop withdrawals from civilian areas.

The committee met in a neutral territory, Omanthai, between the two front lines.

It will confer again after the next round of Sri Lankan peace talks scheduled in Norway at the beginning of next month.

(From the newsroom of BBC World Service)