Colombo: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels today (May 3, 2004) told Norwegian peace brokers that they were willing to resume stalled peace talks with the new Government based on their proposal for self-rule.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they were prepared to open talks any time the Government was ready but warned it against supporting renegade rebels. They also made it clear that there will be no change in the role of peace broker Norway.

Tiger political wing leader S P Thamilselvan said the Tigers are prepared to continue talks based on the concepts embodied in their Interim Self Governing Authority (IGSA) proposal which was unveiled in October.

"The Tigers are fully prepared to resume the negotiations on the same principles and atmosphere as it did with the previous Government in Colombo," Thamilselvan was quoted as saying in the pro-rebel Tamilnet website.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga had earlier rejected the LTTE's self-rule plan known as the proposal for an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) as a stepping stone for a separate State.

Speaking to reporters at the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi after talks with top Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim, Thamilselvan said they had satisfactory signals through the Norwegians that Colombo would abide by a truce agreement entered into in February 2002.

However, Thamilselvan warned Colombo against supporting a breakaway faction of the LTTE led by a regional commander, V Muralitharan, better known as Karuna.