Norway is pulling out of efforts to restart talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels until the country's president and primeminister settle their political dispute.
"We are going home to wait," Norwegian deputy foreign minister Vidar Helgesen said today. "In thecurrent political situation, holding talks will be impossible."
Norway has been instrumental in Sri Lanka's peace process, brokering a February 2002 ceasefire between the government and the Tigers and helping to launch six rounds of peace talks. But those talks have been on hold since April,with the rebels demanding broader interim autonomy.
Norwegian mediators came to the country this week in hopes of setting the stage for new talks on resolving a conflict that has left 65,000 people deadsince 1983.
But the country is embroiled in a power struggle between the prime minister - who has sought to negotiate a lasting peace with the rebels - and the president who alleges the prime minister has made too many concessions.
On November 4th, President Chandrika Kumaratunga wrested control of the ministries of defence, interior and information from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as part of their dispute. She also suspended Parliament andbriefly imposed emergency rule.
The two disagree on how to negotiate with the rebels, and Mr Wickremesinghe's government said earlier this week that any efforts to restart peace talks must wait until the political crisis is resolved.
AP