Colombo: In a setback to the Sri Lankan peace process, Norway today (Nov 14) said it would suspend its peace-brokering role in the country until the power struggle between the leaders of the island nation was resolved.

Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen said they needed "clarity" regarding who was actually responsible for the peace process from the Colombo Government's side before they could resume their efforts.

"Until such clarity is re-established, there is no space for further efforts by the Norwegian Government to assist the parties," Helgesen told reporters at the end of a three-day visit.

He said the talks between the Government and the Tiger rebels could have started even tomorrow, but the political crisis triggered by President Chandrika Kumaratunga sacking of three Ministers and suspending Parliament on November 4 cast a shadow over the entire effort.

The visit by Helgesen and Special Advisor Erik Solheim was originally aimed at reviving talks between the Colombo Government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), but Helgesen said they failed because of the political uncertainty.

PTI