Monks oppose Sri Lanka peace moves

Dozens of Buddhist monks have demonstrated in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, against Norway's involvement in attempts to make peace between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The monks of the National Bhikku Front chanted hymns as they marched to the Norwegian embassy.

Mediators from Norway have been continuing efforts to bring the Sri Lankan Government and the Tamil Tigers to the negotiating table after overseeing the signing of a ceasefire last month.

Some Sri Lankan opposition groups say the current truce concedes too much towards the Tigers' demand for a separate Tamil state in the north.

But a government spokesman, GL Peiris, said a majority of Sri Lankans supported the government's peace efforts.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service