Colombo: Japanese peace Envoy Yasushi Akashi on May 7 admitted that he failed to persuade Tamil Tiger rebels to re-enter negotiations with the Sri Lankan government, despite a high-level meet with Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

"But I think there is still room for discussions," Akashi told reporters just before he went in for closed- door talks with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The Premier himself played down the differences saying, "I think at the end of it, talks will be started."

However, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said earlier on May 7 that the resumption of peace talks would depend on action by the Colombo government in the coming week.

Akashi held two hours of talks with the chief of the LTTE Velupillai Prabhakaran, in the Northern Wanni region.

Akashi has been trying to get the Tigers to end their boycott of peace talks and also attend the June 9 - 10 aid pledging conference Japan is hosting to drum up international support to rebuild Sri Lanka.

LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham told reporters in the island's North that their participation would depend on the government.

PTI