COLOMBO, June 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Norwegian special peace envoy Erik Solheim who is currently on a four-day visit to Sri Lanka will fly to northern town of Kilinochchi on Wednesday for talks with the rebel leaders to explore possibilities for an early resumption of peace talks, officials said.

    Solheim will meet political wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels Thamilselvan in rebel-held Kilinochchi and both sides will discuss issues relating to the resumption of the peace talks as well as that of government's harboring of renegade eastern commander known as Karuna.

    Solehim is also scheduled to meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during his visit, diplomatic sources said.

    Peace talks between the government and the LTTE rebels have been stalled since April last year and further delayed by rebel insistence on their self-rule in the war-battered north and east.

    Solheim's visit came days after the United Nations Children's Fund accused the LTTE rebels of continuing recruiting child soldiers despite their agreement with the government pledging to stop their practice.

    The Norwegian facilitators failed last month to secure a date for the resumption of the peace talks.

    Solheim arrived here late on Monday in his fresh efforts to kick start the peace process in the country.

    The government and the LTTE rebels held six rounds of direct talks which began in September 2002, seven months after they entered into Norwegian-brokered ceasefire. Enditem