Tamil Tigers snub Japanese envoy

By Dumeetha Luthra
BBC News, Colombo

Mr Akashi has been involved in the peace process since 2002

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have said a Japanese special envoy, who has been in the country since Saturday, cannot meet the rebel leader.

Yasushi Akashi will hold talks with senior figures in the government, including President Mahinda Rajapakse, during his four-day visit.

The rebels say Mr Akashi can meet the head of the political wing but not their reclusive leader.

Mr Akashi has been visiting the island since a ceasefire was signed in 2002.

His trip comes as Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst moment in the past four years.

More than 100 people have been killed and there are frequent clashes between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels - a direct violation of the truce.

Mr Akashi will be talking to the president and had hoped to visit the Tiger leadership.

The rebels have said he can meet the head of the political wing but not the reclusive leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Deadlock

So far international efforts have failed to break the impasse blocking a second round of peace talks in Geneva.

Privately, diplomats question whether either side is willing to make the necessary concessions.

The situation on the ground has left the ceasefire in a shambles.

The security forces have been targeted; scores of Tamils have disappeared. Both sides blame each other.

The Tigers have been fighting for an independent homeland for more than two decades.

No one knows whether this latest escalation is a slow slide into all-out war or another spike in Sri Lanka's history of violence.