04 December 2004	Saturday	21 Shawwal 1425

COLOMBO, Dec 3: Shops and offices reopened and public transport was slowly returning to normal on Friday in Sri Lanka's embattled northern and eastern regions after a rebel-sponsored work stoppage came to an end, officials said.

The one-day strike was in protest over alleged disruptions by security forces to the rebels' "Heroes' Week" commemorating guerrillas killed in the long-running ethnic conflict.

Military officials said talks were held with rebels late on Thursday in Trincomalee in a bid to prevent further unrest in the troubled regions amid fears clashes that led to the deaths of two people earlier this week could spark fresh violence.

Peace broker Norway held new talks with Tamil Tiger guerrillas earlier Thursday to discuss unrest that cease fire monitors warned could undermine a fragile truce in place since February 2002.

The strike in Trincomalee, Mannar and Vauuniya came a day after Colombo rejected Tiger demands to resume peace negotiations based on the rebels' blueprint for self-rule.

The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they told Oslo's top envoy here, Hans Brattskar, that Colombo must control "disruptive elements" responsible for the violence in the past week.

"The ambassador discussed the political situation ... with special reference to violent incidents during the last week ... and expressed concern over possible risk to the cease fire and the peace process," the Tigers said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which Thursday withdrew staff from main entry points into rebel-held territory in the absence of guarantees for the safety of their staff, had resumed their work, a spokesman said. The Tigers held ceremonies last weekend to honour nearly 17,800 supporters who have died in Sri Lanka's civil war. -AFP