EU says S Lanka fighting may endanger peace talks

BRUSSELS, Oct 14 (Reuters) The European Union said today it feared renewed fighting in Sri Lanka could endanger the resumption of peace talks between the government and rebel Tamil Tigers this week.

Finland, the holder of the rotating EU presidency, called on both sides to create an environment for constructive discussion ahead of the talks planned for October 28-29 in Geneva.

''The presidency is deeply concerned about the increasing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,'' the presidency said in a statement.

It urged the Sri Lankan government and the rebels to ensure humanitarian aid deliveries had free access to areas hit by the conflict and that the security of humanitarian workers was guaranteed.

The two sides are engaging in almost daily artillery battles in the island's far north. This week, dozens of troops and rebels were killed in one of the deadliest battles since a tattered 2002 truce.

The Tigers want a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in the island's north and east.

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