Tamil rebels want to continue 2002 cease-fire after Sri Lankan government withdraws

Separatist Tamil Tigers rebels said Thursday they want to continue a 2002 cease-fire with the Sri Lankan government, a week after Colombo officially withdrew from the truce.

"We are shocked and disappointed that the government of Sri Lanka has unilaterally abrogated the cease-fire agreement signed in 2002," B. Nadesan, the group's political head, said in a statement _ the first public reaction to the government's decision.

The Tigers were "ready to implement every clause" of the Norway-brokered truce and respect it "100 percent," he said.

The rebel group is banned in United States, India, European Union and Canada as …