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by Ranga Jayasuriya and Trincomalee Group Correspondent

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Chief Gen Trond Furuhovde is expected to meet the LTTE hierarchy in Trincomalee today to seek the release of the seven soldiers detained by the Tigers.

"The Head of the Mission plans to meet LTTE leaders on Tuesday in Trincomalee to mediate the release of the soldiers," SLMM Deputy Chief Haugruph Haukland told the Daily News.

The SLMM Chief's visit comes after the failure of Trincomalee Branch SLMM monitors to settle the dispute.

"We have been trying since Thursday, but there is no change in the LTTE stance," Haukland said.

Haukland said Gen. Furuhovde has briefed the Peace Secretariat on the LTTE stance. The LTTE persists in its demand for the release of two LTTE cadres in exchange of the seven soldiers in its custody.

The two cadres whose release the LTTE is demanding produced before the court were charged with possessing illegal weapons, Trincomalee Police said.

The SLMM said last week that it would not interfere with judicial issues.

The seven soldiers of the Monkey Bridge Camp attached to the Trincomalee 221 Brigade Headquarters were detained last Thursday by the LTTE in Vilgamvehera, an area claimed both by the LTTE and the Security Forces.

The soldiers were detained with their lorry, while on their way to collect sand from a river for construction work at the brigade headquarters, the Army said.

Haukland said the soldiers had ventured into an area which they thought was under security forces.

The LTTE earlier consented to release the soldiers without conditions, but later demanded the release of two of its cadres.

Meanwhile, 90 relatives of soldiers detained by the LTTE yesterday met the SLMM monitors in Trincomalee to call for SLMM mediation to release the soldiers, a SLMM Spokesman told the Daily News.

LTTE Trincomalee Political Chief Kannan has said the Tigers would release the seven soldiers when the Government releases the two LTTE cadres.

He has assured that the soldiers were being treated well and there was no need for unnecessary fears over their safety.

When the parents requested a meeting with their sons, Kannan said he needed time to consult his leaders. He added that such a meeting could be considered if the request comes through the SLMM.

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