Ceasefire declaration by Lanka govt inevitable: Karunanidhi

Chennai, Nov 10 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi today said it has become inevitable for the Sri Lankan government to declare ceasefire in the strife-torn nation in the wake of LTTE's announcement that it was prepared for it.

In a statement here, he recalled his earlier remarks that both the warring parties -- Lankan government and the LTTE -- should agree for a ceasefire and pointed out LTTE's spokesperson Nadesan's announcement that the outfit was prepared to declare a ceasefire.

Recalling the statements made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee that there was no military solution to the ethnic conflict and the need of the hour was a peacefully negotiated political settlement within the framework of the United Sri Lanka respecting the legitimate rights of the minorities, including the Tamil community, the Chief Minister said keeping this in mind both the Lankan government and the LTTE should accept this and announce a ceasefire and bring a halt to the killing of Eelam Tamils.

He said the all party meeting convened by him on October 14 had passed a resolution to this effect.

''The remarks of the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister raises hope that the resolution will be implemented step by step'', he said and added that it was for the Sri Lankan government now to implement it.

''It has become inevitable for the Lankan government to discharge its bounden duty (of declaring a ceasefire)'', he added.

''There is an urgent and compelling need on the part of the Indian government to prevail upon its Sri Lankan counterpart for implementing the same'', Mr Karunanidhi said.

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