Tamil Tigers 'could join army'

The newly-elected government is keen to end 18 years of civil war

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka's army chief has suggested that some Tamil Tiger rebels could be absorbed into the armed forces if Norway-brokered peace efforts are able to end years of bitter conflict.

Hopes of peace talks to end the nearly two-decade long war between the Tamil Tigers and Colombo have swelled in recent months after a new government was elected on a pro-peace mandate in December.

"What would be the future of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after the success of the peace process?" the Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper quoted Army Commander Lionel Balagalle as saying on Thursday.

"We must start addressing this problem before we are confronted with it," he said, adding some cadres could be absorbed into the army or navy and some could provide security to Tamil political leaders.

The army chief's suggestions come amid unilateral truces by both parties that expire on February 24.

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The government and the LTTE have said they are optimistic a more permanent ceasefire arrangement might be drawn up before they lapse.

Norway, facilitators to the peace efforts, are currently drafting a truce document acceptable to both sides, but no time frame has yet been set for direct talks.

The LTTE, fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east of the island, is estimated to have around 5,000 to 6,000 active fighters, while the Sri Lankan armed forces number more than 100,000, according to Reuters news agency.

In the past, talks have broken down and led to bloody fighting a number of times in a war that has killed an estimated 64,000 people.