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India will not lift ban on LTTE

NEW DELHI, Wednesday (AFP) - India said Wednesday it would not lift a ban on Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam despite the peace process under way in the island.

The Sri Lankan government announced it would lift a ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for one month from September 6.

The move met a key condition of the rebels before they would come to the negotiating table.

India banned the LTTE after it was accused of the assassination of former Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said India would not lift the ban and would also not revoke an extradition demand for the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.

"We have wished the peace process well. As far as our request for extradition is concerned, that remains valid and is not diluted," she said.

"We have no intention to involve ourselves in the peace talks."

The comments came as Sri Lankan government negotiator in the peace process, Milinda Moragoda, was visiting India to identify areas where India could help in the rebuilding process of the war-torn country.

On Tuesday he met K.C. Pant, deputy chairman of India's official economic think-tank, the Planning Commission.

On Wednesday he met Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha and the country's national security advisor, Brajesh Mishra.

Details of the meetings were not immediately available.

Talks aimed at ending three decades of ethnic bloodshed are due to begin in the Thai capital Bangkok on September 16 between the LTTE and he government.

The two sides have been observing a ceasefire since February.

India, home to 55 million Tamils, is seen as key to supporting the peace process.

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