New SLMM head described recent violence as 'shocking'

The head of the mission, Major-General Lars Johan Sølvberg, said the nature of the violence by both the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels was shocking, and urged both parties to return to peace talks.

The two sides have said they want to negotiate, but many doubt whether their willingness is sincere.

BBC correspondent in Colombo, Dumeetha Luthra, says in recent months both sides have been breaking the ceasefire to such an extent that it only seems to be a document on paper rather than a reality on the ground.

The monitoring mission has halved in size since the Tamil Tigers demanded that any individuals from European Union countries must leave following the EU's listing of the rebels as a terrorist organisation.