Colombo: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's party on May 23 warned the government against conceding to the latest demand of Tamil Tiger rebels to set up an interim administration as a precondition to revive the stalled peace process.

The People's Alliance (PA) of Kumaratunga said they were totally opposed to the setting up of an interim administrative council for the embattled Northern and Eastern regions in line with a demand made by the Tigers two days ago.

"The PA rejects totally this demand and warns the Prime Minister that if he concedes, his government will be in peril," party spokesman Sarath Amunugama told reporters.

The support of the PA is essential for any Constitutional changes and the President also enjoys the power to sack Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's government if she thinks it is necessary and call fresh elections.

The warning came two days after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) asked for the establishment of an interim administrative council for the island's Northern and Eastern regions, giving the rebels a majority stake.

The PA maintained that the Prime Minister had no Constitutional authority to make any promises to the LTTE about setting up an interim administration without the consent of the President.

There has, however, been no formal response from the government to the LTTE's demand in exchange for their re-starting peace talks and travelling to Tokyo next month for a crucial conference of foreign aid donors.

PTI