Opposition leader Ranil Wickre-mesinghe told members of his United National Party (UNP) he had decided not to back the minority government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga due to mixed signals from the administration.

Last week, the UNP offered an unexpected life line to Kumara-tunga's shaky coalition in order to revive peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels despite differences within the government.

Wickremesinghe was quoted in a statement by his party as saying that although he supported Kumara-tunga's plan to start peace talks with the Tigers based on rebel proposals for self-rule, her Marxist ally, the JVP, or People's Liberation Front was militantly opposed to the idea.

"President Kumaratunga's brother, Anura Bandaranaike, and the JVP have said they do not want our support and they have raised several allegations against us," Wickremesinghe said.

"In that context, the UNP will move away from its earlier decision to support the government."

Any peace deal with the Tigers needs the backing of the opposition as Kumaratunga's government does not enjoy even a simple majority in the 225-member assembly.

Wickremesinghe entered into a ceasefire agreement with the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in February 2002 and held six rounds of Norwegian-backed peace talks with the guerrillas.