The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they gave the Norwegian ambassador, Hans Brattskar, a proposal to set up an "interim administration" for embattled regions.

"Political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan handed over the proposals to Ambassador Brattskar and they went in for discussions thereafter," spokesman Daya Master said by telephone from the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi, 330km north of here.

Brattskar is due to travel back from Kilinochchi to the capital later Friday to convey the proposals to the Colombo government.

Officials here said they were standing by to communicate the rebel plan to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who flew to London earlier Friday on his way to Washington for talks with President George W. Bush.

The details of the rebel plan were not immediately announced by Norway or the rebels, but the government's top peace negotiator, G. L. Peiris, said they were expected to make their first response known by Saturday morning.

The Tigers have never before put down their political proposals in writing and had only rejected proposals put forward by consecutive Colombo governments.

In their latest move, the Tigers are expected to seek a six-year term for an interim council that would take over the virtual administration of the northeast before a final deal is concluded, diplomatic sources said.

They said the proposals were believed to be "reasonable and do-able" within the Sri Lankan constitution which envisages a degree of political autonomy to its provinces.