Norway's envoy in firing line

Norway's envoy in firing line

COLOMBO (AFP): Norway's efforts to broker peace in Sri Lanka
have suffered another blow with the Colombo government and Tamil
rebels locking horns over the removal of Oslo's special envoy,
diplomats said on Sunday.

The separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
expressed its displeasure over the "unilateral initiative" of the
Sri Lankan government to effect a change in the role of Norwegian
envoy Erik Solheim.

"As a facilitator, the government of Norway is under
obligation to consult both protagonists before making crucial
decisions with regards to its level of involvement or engagement.

"Making a bilateral decision with the government of Sri Lanka,
circumventing the other party (LTTE) in conflict entails a breach
of protocol and neutrality," the LTTE said in a statement sent
here.