Colombo: In a move that could pave the way for resumption of stalled peace negotiations, Sri Lanka's Tiger rebels today (Sep 16, 2004) softened their stand on the proposal for self-rule and said their plan was not "rigid and final".

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they were ready to negotiate on their highly controversial plan to set up an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA).

The Tigers had earlier taken an all-or-nothing stance and wanted Colombo to implement the ISGA proposal before opening talks.

The new development came as peace broker Norway moved to jumpstart the peace negotiations.

"However, ...the Government should not put forward counter proposals before resuming the negotiations," the pro-rebel 'Tamilnet' website quoted LTTE's political wing leader S P Thamilselvan as saying.

He insisted that the ISGA proposals unveiled by the LTTE in October last year should be the basis for the talks to begin.

Norway's special envoy Erik Solheim was in the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi today for talks with Thamilselvam.