COLOMBO, Dec. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheimmet Wednesday with Tamil Tigers leaders at the rebel-held northerntown of Kilinochchi in a fresh attempt to revive Sri Lanka's peacetalks, the national television reported.

    Solheim said that he discussed with the leadership of the rebelLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on preparing groundwork for the resumption of the stalled peace talks between the LTTE andthe government.

    After holding talks with the LTTE's political leader S.P. Thamilselvan and other high rankers, Solheim said that both sides should work with commitment to safeguard the cease-fire agreement.

    "We cannot deny that the peace process is at the most critical point since the cease-fire agreement was signed in 2002," Solheim told reporters.

    Solheim, who arrived here Monday night, met Tuesday with the head of a European team monitoring the February 2002 cease-fire agreement between the LTTE and the government.

    Peace talks aimed at ending the island nation's two-decade civil war stalled in April 2003 when the LTTE withdrew from the talks, demanding more autonomy for the north and east dominated bythe ethnic Tamil minority.

    Solheim comes after the LTTE indicated late last month that therebels' patience was running out and the Tigers may return to pursue their "freedom struggle" goal. Enditem