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The Tigers called for a temporary ceasefire if the government agreed to withdraw troops from the northern Jaffna Peninsula, paving the way for peace talks, they said. According to a LTTE statement, a positive response to the offer will "create cordial conditions for a permanent ceasefire, peace talks", but a rejection could lead to "disastrous consequences of heavy military casualties". Meanwhile, Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremasinghe said that instead of a total rejection the government could have reached some kind of agreement with the Tigers. The President in her speech on state T.V and radio said, "The military suffered a setback in Elephant Pass after the setbacks in the Wanni. That is why our government decided to put the country on a war footing". Sources also claim that the President also called on the youth of the country to take an active part in the on-going situation, but did not specifically ask them to join the security forces. Media Minister, Mangala Samaraweera claims that the offer made by the Tigers is part of a "psychological warfare" and that the government had no intention of withdrawing from Jaffna. According to military officials, troops on the peninsula had been re-armed to escalate attacks against the LTTE.
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