COLOMBO. Apr 3: Britain brokered a landmark agreement aimed at ending Sri Lanka's drawn out Tamil separatist war which has claimed 50,000 lives,, political sources here said today, reports AFP.

Liam Fox. Britain's Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Wednesday clinched an agreement between President Chandrika Kumaratunga's government and the main opposition to cooperate on their approach to the ethnic war. the sources said.

The deal would be aimed at bringing the government into talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which is leading a drawn out campaign for independence in the north and northeast of Sri Lanka.

The main thrust of the deal is that there will in future be a bi partisan approach to the ethnic conflict." a government official said. The deal sets the stage for the government to open talks with Tigers."

There was no immediate reaction from the LTTE, which maintains offices in London as well as in some 40 other countries.

Political analysts here said the agreement will clear the way for direct talks between Colombo and the LTTE since President Kumaratunga has won the backing of the opposition United National Party (UNP).

There was no immediate word about possible dates for opening talks with Tiger guerillas.

Official sources said the Kresident and opposition leader anil Wickremesinghe. a former prime minister, exchanged letters today agreeing to abide by the deal and honour subsequent agreements.

The agreement "will restore peace in Sri Lanka and lead to the development, progress and prosperity of the country and its people." the letters stated.