Sri Lanka Tigers reject UN charges over child soldiers, urges dialogue

COLOMBO, Feb 18 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said Friday a United Nations report saying that the guerrilla movement had recruited more than 4,700 children since 2001 was false.

"We totally reject the accusations levelled against us about recruiting children for war," the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan said on the Tamil nitharsanam.com website.

Thamilselvan said the UN should send a representative to discuss the issue with them.

"We believe the United Nations would study them (the allegations) and take a fair decision. We are prepared to join and work with any organisation that is acting in a practical manner for the welfare of our children," he said.