Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels have decided to keep neutral in the country's upcoming presidential elections, but would permit canvassing in the rebel held northern and eastern areas.

"We have decided to be neutral... We will not support any party, " the Sunday Observer quoted Daya Master, spokesman of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as saying.

"We will let people make their choice," Master said, adding that the LTTE could not recommend to Tamil people to vote for any main contenders, given the "history of broken promises."

The LTTE would permit canvassing in LTTE held areas, he said, but candidates would be required to obtain prior permission.

Master said though the LTTE would not back any candidate, it was firm that the people's right to exercise universal franchise should not be curtailed under any grounds.

"There were previous incidents where Tamil people were prevented from voting," he said referring to the closure of entry- exit points to the LTTE held region in the parliamentary polls in 2001, disenfranching an estimated 80,000 voters.

The supreme court later ruled it a violation of fundamental rights. He said the LTTE proxy Tamil National Alliance would also not support any candidate.

Thirteen candidates, including the ruling party's Mahinda Rajapakse and the main opposition United National Party's Ranil Wickremesinghe, will contend for presidency in the presidential election on Nov. 17.

The LTTE had been fighting for an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka's north and south areas for more than 20 years before it reached a cease-fire agreement with the government in February 2002.

However, directed talks between the two parties strolled in April 2003 after six rounds.

Source: Xinhua