Sri Lanka Rebels meet in Wicklow
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, has confirmed that Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have been in Ireland for what he called 'internal talks' on a peace deal.
The LTTE talks have been taking place all week in an unnamed location in Co Wicklow.
The Minister gave the information in a written answer to a Dáil question, and said Irish officials were not involved.
In advance of this week's talks, Mr Cowen met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando at the UN last month.
He said 28 people were involved in the talks that were 'intended to give the LTTE an opportunity' to consider Sri Lankan government proposals.
Two Sri Lankan government civil servants had addressed the participants as well as a number of international academics, legal and constitutional experts.
The LTTE delegation involves 11 negotiators and support staff.
