AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN NORTHERN AND EASTERN PARTS OF SRI LANKA FRIDAY, AS NORWEGIANS ENVOYS LAUNCHED A FRESH EFFORT TO CONVINCE TAMIL REBELS AND THE GOVERNMENT TO RETURN TO PEACE TALKS, ACCORDING TO DPA. THE LATEST FIGHTING OCCURRED AS NORWEGIAN PEACE ENVOY JON HANSSEN-BAUER AND NORWAY'S INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER ERIK SOLHIEM MET WITH PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA. THE LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM (LTTE), KILLED THREE MEMBERS OF THE RIVAL KARUNA GROUP AND CAPTURED TWO OTHERS IN THE PATTIADDY AREA OF TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT, 240 NORTH EAST OF THE CAPITAL, SOURCES SAID. THE ARMY SHOT AND KILLED TWO YOUTHS RIDING IN A MOTORBIKE AT ADIYAPATHAM JUNCTION IN JAFFNA, 390 KILOMETRES NORTH OF THE CAPITAL ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. MILITARY OFFICIALS CLAIMED THE TWO WERE ATTACKERS WHO WERE KILLED AFTER FIRING ON A POLICE POST. BUT THE LTTE SAID THAT THE SOLDIERS STATIONED AT THE JUNCTION AIMED AT THE MOTORBIKE APPROACHING THE JUNCTION AND SHOT THEM. A MEMBER OF A PARAMILITARY GROUP WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO SHOT DEAD BY UNIDENTIFIED MEN IN AN ISLAND OFF THE JAFFNA PENINSULA ON FRIDAY. THE NORWEGIANS CONTINUED THEIR EFFORTS TO BRING THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LTTE BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE ON FRIDAY, MEETING WITH PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA. ENVOY BAUER WAS DUE TO TRAVEL TO KILINOCHCHI TO MEET WITH REBEL POLITICAL LEADER S.P.THAMILSELVAN ON SATURDAY. SOLHEIM WAS DUE TO FLY TO INDIA LATER IN THE DAY WHERE HE WAS EXPECTED TO BRIEF NEW DELHI ON EFFORTS TO END THE DEADLOCK BETWEEN THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT. MORE THAN 375 PERSON CIVILIANS, SOLDIERS, AND REBELS HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE APRIL 7 WHILE THE SECURITY SITUATION DETERIORATED. TALKS BETWEEN THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD.
