COLOMBO, Nov 22: A breakaway group of the Tamil Tigers has announced that it is ready to lay down arms provided the ‘repressive acts’ of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran are brought ‘under control’. The announcement comes in the wake of the breakaway group led by former LTTE eastern district militant commander Karuna, being added to the UN Secretary General’s "list of shame" last week.

Azaath Maulana, spokesman of Karuna’s political organisation, the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) was quoted on Wednesday in the Colombo based Daily Mirror as saying that the group was prepared to lay down arms.

“The TMVP spokesman quoted Mr Karuna as saying they never wished to have a ‘friendship’ with weapons or to cause destruction and death by continuing a meaningless armed struggle but, were forced to do so as a result of Mr Prabhakaran’s actions,” the paper said.