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LTTE proposals ‘unacceptable’: Hakeem
By Neville de Silva in London
SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem yesterday dismissed as unacceptable the LTTE proposals for devolution of power saying they do not reflect at all the aspirations of the Muslim community.

"The LTTE proposals are fundamentally different from those made by the government and they do not reflect the aspirations of the Muslim people," Minister Hakeem told the Sunday Times.

Earlier, the LTTE's counter proposals on an interim administration were handed over to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in London on Friday, ahead of the LTTE's public announcement in Sri Lanka yesterday.

The Norwegian Charge d' Affaires in Britain met the Prime Minister at his London hotel on Friday afternoon to hand over the package of proposals, well informed sources told The Sunday Times. Mr. Wickremesinghe did not engage in any discussions with the Norwegian diplomat, according to the sources.

Yesterday Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had discussions with SLMC leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem who had returned the previous night from Belfast after a study tour on devolution.

The SLMC delegation left London for Colombo after briefings on various aspects of devolution and how it was working on the ground in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe later left London for Washington today where he is due to hold talks with President George W Bush and key officials of the Bush administration.

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