Sri Lanka: Tsunami-displaced children were recruited by rebels

&to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2003/04/02/45443.html ' target=_blank>UNICEF said three tsunami-displaced children were reported to have been recruited in Sri Lanka's east, where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam control large pockets of jungle.

"Recruitment … was an issue before the tsunami. It's an issue that continues to be of concern," said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF's Sri Lankan representative.

"We know of three cases of reported underage recruitment that took place in the east," he said. "We said [to the rebels] … 'You send out instructions that no child that has been displaced by the tsunami should in any way be affected or harassed by any person.' ", writes Los Angeles Times.

According to the ABC News, tensions between the government and the rebels over tsunami aid have been running high in the week's since the disaster.

Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is set to meet &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/fun/2002/10/15/38202.html ' target=_blank>Norway's Foreign Minister Jan Petersen as part of Norway's first post-tsunami attempt to salvage Sri Lanka's faltering peace process.

"He is going to meet the Norwegian foreign minister next week," the head of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) peace secretariat, Puleedevan, told AFP in an email.

Mr Petersen and top Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim are due to hold talks with Sri Lankan leaders as well as the rebels to try to end a 21-month impasse in negotiations.