Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels handed over a power-sharing proposal today, the first time they have laid out in writing an extensive roadmap to end the island's two-decade war that has killed 64,000.
The landmark proposal was given to Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar in a rebel-controlled area of northern Sri Lanka, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said.
Norway brokered a ceasefire that has mostly held since it was signed 20 months ago, and Brattskar was to hand the proposal to the government later today.
Details of the plans for power-sharing in the north and east of the island, much of which is already controlled by the Tigers, will be released tomorrow.
Versions of the plan reported in local media show the Tigers want an interim administration that would control almost all aspects of governance for six years.
During that time the two sides would hash out a new constitution for the country that would enshrine "core" rights for minority groups, one newspaper said.
A country-wide referendum would than be held on the constitutional changes, with the Tigers holding out the option of secession if the vote fails.
The government issued its proposal on power-sharing several months ago, and the two documents will be the basis for direct peace talks the government said would resume early next year.
A first round of talks started a year ago, but was suspended in April when the rebels said the government had reneged on promises to help rebuild war-damaged Tamil areas.