Sri Lanka Warned by India Against Civilian Casualties in Rebel Conflict

India has told Sri Lanka that military operations against Tamil rebels last week in which civilians were killed or wounded could hinder negotiations to end the island’s ethnic conflict, officials said Sunday.

Jyotindra Dixit, India’s high commissioner in Colombo, said he told President Junius K. Jayewardene at a meeting Saturday night that military activity against civilians would not help plans under negotiation.

A seven-hour curfew was reimposed Sunday in Mullaitivu where at least 13 rebels have been killed in a military sweep through guerrilla hideouts in the northern district.

Civilians in Jaffna said four civilians were killed by mortar exchanges between troops positioned inside a military camp and rebels in the northern city.

Dixit said he briefed Jayewardene about new ideas that emerged last week in discussions between Indian and Sri Lankan officials after their leaders tried to thrash out a peace formula in talks in Bangalore.

A formula proposed by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Jayewardene devolving power to provincial councils has been rejected by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, biggest of the rebel groups fighting for an independent homeland for minority Tamils.

The plan would give Tamils limited autonomy in areas where they are a majority.