India and Sri Lanka say peace talks with Tamil rebels should resume early in order to prevent the island nation from plunging back into civil war.
The call was made after visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and briefed him about his government's efforts to restart peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels.
An Indian spokesman said both countries agreed about the need to strengthen the almost three-year-old ceasefire, which is becoming fragile.
Both the Tigers and the Sri Lankan government have agreed to hold talks, but the government insists they must take place in an Asian country, while the rebels want to hold them in Norway, which brokered a 2002 truce.
In New Delhi, Mr. Rajapakse is also holding talks on enhancing economic cooperation and trade relations with India.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
