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Talks between Sri Lankan leaders ``collapsing,'' president's spokesman says
Associated Press,
Fri January 30, 2004 11:41 EST .
KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Talks aimed at solving a bitter power dispute between Sri Lanka - 's two rival leaders are collapsing, imperiling a fragile cease-fire with Tamil rebels, a presidential spokesman said Friday. Sri Lanka - 's political crisis erupted in November when Kumaratunga wrested control of three ministries from Wickremesinghe's Cabinet. The two leaders are from different political parties and were elected separately. Wickremesinghe was conducting peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels on ending a bloody 19-year civil war. Kumaratunga accused him of making too many concessions to the Tamil guerrillas, who are seeking autonomy in Sri Lanka - 's northeast. The defense ministry was one of the three ministries Kumaratunga commandeered on Nov. 4 while the prime minister was in Washington. Without control of the defense portfolio, efforts to sustain a February 2002 cease-fire are impossible, Wickremesinghe says. Kumaratunga, however, has refused to relinquish control of the ministry. Officials said both sides were in the process Friday of preparing a ``consensus document'' outlining agreements on the economy and democracy. They said the more contentious issues of control over defense and the peace process would be dealt with later. But it remained unclear Friday whether Kumaratunga's side would accept further meetings. ``They have not come back yet. We are completely in the dark,'' Samarawickrama said. Sri Lanka - 's civil war has claimed 65,000 lives since the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam rebels began fighting the government in 1983 to create a separate state for ethnic minority Tamils, accusing the majority Sinhalese of discrimination.
Published: Fri Jan 30 12:48:26 EST 2004
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