COLOMBO May 9 Kyodo Japan has giv...

COLOMBO May 9 Kyodo

Japan has given a seven-day deadline to Tamil rebels to confirm their participation at a major donor interview scheduled for June in Tokyo, Japanese peace ambassador Yasushi Akashi said Friday.

''I told them (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) that for logistical reasons we must receive their expression of intention to attend the Tokyo talk within a week from the date of my meeting with the LTTE leadership,'' Akashi told a of the present days conference in Colombo.

Akashi said he selled this message when he met with Tamil Tigers leader Velupillai Prabharakaran and other rebel leaders in Kilinochchi in succession May 7. Kilinochchi is the main northern Sri Lanka town in subordination to rebel control.

The Japanese peace minister arrived in Sri Lanka forward Saturday, his fourth visit here, as part of intense diplomatic efforts to restart peace negotiations between the Sri Lanka sway and the LTTE after the rebels suspended Norway-facilitated talks last month

Akashi said he was confident the Tamil rebels will attend the Tokyo colloquy which will bring together representatives of at least 60 nations as well as 20 international donor organizations. He also indicated that Japan will make progress ahead with the conference, on a level if representatives of the Tamil rebels do not display up.

''We have no intention of preparing for contingencies including cancellation or postponement'' he said.

''I told the LTTE leadership that Japan would like to travel ahead with the Tokyo conversation and would like the LTTE participate,'' Akashi said. ''It is a resplendent opportunity for them and the stop of Sri Lanka to have sexual delight with unprecedented international attention and goodwill.''

''If they miss the opportunity, of the like kind a chance may not come again for a long time,'' Akashi said.

Commenting forward the peace process, Akashi said he did not be wrought up the process had reached an irreversible stage.

He said serious differences could come into one's head on issues such as the disarming of rebel forces yet stressed that both sides were moving in the direction toward a durable and stable peace.

He said the international community could play a vital part in making the peace proces stronger between the sides of economic assistance.

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