Sri Lanka ceasefire monitors retreat to capital

Nordic ceasefire monitors are pulling back to the Sri Lankan capital because of the intense fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels in the north and east of the country.

The Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission said the retreat to Colombo was temporary.

The scaled down mission follows a demand from Tamil Tiger rebels for European staff to withdraw after the EU branded the group a terrorist organisation.

But a top peace broker said both parties to the conflict still wanted a continued presence of international monitors.

Meanwhile diplomats from the US, European Union, Norway and Japan have met the Sri Lankan President to express growing concern at the violence which has claimed more than 1500 lives since December.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA