Fresh snags hold up Lanka peace talks

Officials close to the Norwegian-led peace process say the government and guerrillas were about to clinch a deal 10 days ago on re-starting talks on hold since April last year.

But they said new problems arose over the agenda for talks, with the government insisting that elements of a final peace deal be taken up while the Tigers want to discuss their plan for interim self-rule.

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There were also differences on where the talks should be held and the level of media access to be allowed. The Tigers want high-profile talks staged overseas, while the new Colombo government favours negotiations in the island with little press attention.

Norway's top peace envoy Erik Solheim is due here this week on a previously arranged visit that will now focus on ironing out the differences, diplomats said.

"The original plan was for Solheim to try and arrange a time and place for opening talks," a diplomat said. "But now the challenge is to get parties to decide on an agenda."