Tuesday, November 29 2005 11:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The US today (Nov 29, 2005) expressed hope that the LTTE will respond positively to the peace offer made by new the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapakse, and give up "terrorism and violence" against political opponents.

"(Vellupillai) Prabakaran's speech appears to be rather ambiguous about just what the LTTE intends to do," a Bush administration official said responding to the LTTE supremo's reported statement that Colombo had to come up with a "reasonable" political settlement by December 31 or risk the rebels setting up a separate state.

"However the US continues to encourage all Sri Lankans to work for peace," the official said adding that Washington "fully supported" the efforts of Norway to move ahead with the ongoing peace process between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE.

"We hope that the LTTE will respond positively to the reported offer of President Rajapaske to resume peace talks", he said adding the Tigers must "firmly disavow terrorism and violence against political opponents and cease the recruitment of children as soldiers."