COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, June 28 (UPI) -- The Tamil Tiger rebel group has apologized for the 1991 killing of India's prime minister as it inches closer to war with Sri Lankan forces.
India has kept clear of Sri Lanka since the suicide bombing of Rajiv Gandhi but recently began offering military aid to Sri Lanka, possibly pushing the rebels to make amends.
Anton Balasingham, the Tiger's head negotiator in the failing peace talks, said the Gandhi killing was a tragedy, adding, "We call upon the government of India and people of India to be magnanimous, to put the past behind them."
Anand Sharma, India's junior foreign minister, said accepting the apology would be accepting terrorism, The Independent reports.
He claims the Tigers are reaching out to India only because India has decided to assist Sri Lanka in their fight against the rebel group, which is considered a terrorist organization by many government groups, including the European Union.
