Sri Lankan talks end in failure

Violence has soared over recent months

Talks between Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels aimed at averting a return to war have ended without agreement.

Norwegian mediator Erik Solheim said no deal had been reached on how to address the humanitarian crisis and no dates had been set for new negotiations.

The two-day talks in Geneva had been intended to shore up the 2002 ceasefire amid a major upsurge of fighting.

They were the first time the two sides had met in eight months.

Since July, 372 security force members, 128 civilians and many rebels have died, the government says.

Negotiator's frustration

Norwegian diplomats warned at the outset not to expect too much, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva.

There was always the suspicion that the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government turned up only because of international pressure and without any real desire to talk peace, she says, and the lack of progress seems to prove this.

The first day began with a strained handshake between the leaders of the two delegations.

Human rights issues are very much a part of the core issues we want to discuss Nimal Siripala de Silva, Government chief negotiator Battle to avert war

Swiss diplomats also reminded the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan government of their obligations under the Geneva Convention.

Saturday was taken up with lengthy recriminations, with each side blaming the other for recent violence.

Sunday foundered on the issue of access to the Jaffna peninsular.

The Tamil Tigers demanded the re-opening of the highway to the region saying its closure was preventing humanitarian aid reaching civilians in need.

They have said they will not agree to any future meetings if the demand is not met.

The government countered that the road was closed because the Tamil Tigers were attacking it and extorting fees from vehicles using it.

Both sides say they are committed to the ceasefire but the acrimonious atmosphere at the close of the talks and the ongoing fighting in Sri Lanka must leave that in doubt, our correspondent adds.

Credibility fear

The last round of discussions was in Geneva in February. Two subsequent attempts at talks failed, most recently in June.

Since then the international landscape has changed significantly for both sides, our correspondent says.

The rebels have been blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by the European Union and Canada.

The government, meanwhile, is concerned about losing its international credibility.

Both parties have been criticised for human rights abuses, while, on the military front, both have suffered reversals of fortune.