COLOMBO, Jan 1: Sri Lanka's Minister of Muslim Affairs, Rauf Hakeem, said on Thursday that his party, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, would be shortly submitting proposals to the government and the LTTE regarding the safeguarding of Muslims' rights in the north and the east.

These proposals relate to the peace process, but would primarily deal with peaceful coexistence with Tamils and the LTTE in the north and the east, Mr Hakeem said.

Mr Hakeem said the proposals by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress would look to end animosities and to assist the government and the Tamil Tigers arrive at a political solution that will safeguard the integrity of all ethnic groups.

TUG OF WAR: With the tug of war between the president and the prime minister continuing, debate has once more begun between the two parties about the lack of a compromise.

President Kumaratunga, replying to questions on a live radio programme on Wednesday, said if the government was not ready to arrive at a consensus on core issues, including the peace process, she will be compelled to look for other democratic "alternatives" and use her executive powers to seek solutions to problems faced by the nation.