Colombo  - Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels issued a unilateral ceasefire declaration early Tuesday for a 10-day period beginning Friday.

A statement from the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said that the ceasefire "as a sign of goodwill" would extend through August 4 in recognition of the upcoming conference of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The meeting brings together Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.

"Our movement is glad to inform that it will observe a unilateral ceasefire that is devoid of military actions during the period of the SAARC conference ... and give our cooperation for the success of the conference." (dpa)