Sri Lankan rebels pull out of Switzerland talks

BATTICALOA, Sri Lanka, Apr 15 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said today they would pull out of talks with the government in Switzerland due to a dispute over the transport of eastern rebel commanders to their northern base.

The head of the Tiger peace secretariat, S Puleedevan, said the Tigers were concerned about Sri Lankan navy plans to monitor a civilian sea transport escorting unarmed Nordic truce monitors that was to have taken the rebel commanders today.

''It is very important we meet our commanders,'' Puleedevan told Reuters by telephone. ''We have cancelled the transport. If we cannot meet them, Geneva is off.'' REUTERS OM ND1028