Colombo: Sri Lanka's LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) rebels on April 4 accused the US of undermining the Norwegian peace efforts in the country by keeping the Tamil Tigers out of a conference to drum up aid from foreign donors to support reconstruction efforts in the island's North and East.

"The LTTE is disappointed by its exclusion from the international conference to support reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the North and East of Sri Lanka, to be hosted by the United States in Washington on April 14," pro-rebel website Tamilnet quoted the rebels as saying in a statement.

"Regrettably, the United States has undermined this joint effort by isolating the LTTE and solely promoting the GoSL (government of Sri Lanka)," the statement said, adding "the exclusion of LTTE from reconstruction efforts in Tamil areas of Sri Lanka is against the spirit of peace process."

Local newspaper 'The Island' on April 3 quoted US envoy in Colombo Ashley Wills as saying the LTTE would not be invited to the meet as US had banned it as a terrorist organisation.

It also said the LTTE' absence would make it possible for India, which has also banned LTTE, to participate at the meet to be chaired by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

The rebels and the Sri Lankan government are engaged in peace talks, brokered by Norway, since September. A key issue at the negotiations is funds to reconstruct the embattled North and East, and resettle thousands of refugees.

"We call upon the United States and international donors to actively support the Norwegian peace process by endorsing the joint participation of the LTTE and GoSL in reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the North and East of Sri Lanka," the rebels said.

PTI