COLOMBO, July 27: Visiting Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vidar Helgessan, has pledged to take up the Muslim aspect of the peace process with the LTTE, according to the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

Rauf Hakeem, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress in an interview with Dawn last night, soon after he met with the Norwegian deputy foreign minister, said that he was assured of Norway's support to lobby for the rights of the Muslims in LTTE-controlled North East.

"This is the most successful round of talks we have had with the Norwegians. They have agreed to our proposal of Muslim representation in the event of peace talks resuming between the LTTE and the government," Mr Hakeem said referring to unsuccessful talks with the Norwegian peace facilitators regarding the rights of the north east Muslims.

The visiting Norwegian delegate had told the SLMC leader that the Karuna affair which has put the country on a war alert had become a stumbling block in taking forward the stalled peace talks between the government and the LTTE, according to SLMC sources.

The Norwegian deputy foreign minister met with Rauff Hakeem as part of his talks with the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE in a bid to save the fragile ceasefire agreement.