KILINOCHCHI, Sri Lanka, AUG 6, SPA -- Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels on Sunday agreed to lift a water blockade ofgovernment-held villages in the northeast _ an issue thathad led to some of the fiercest fighting between the twosides in nearly five years. «Our national leader has decided to open the sluice gatein response to a request made by» Norway, the rebels' toppolitical leader, S.P. Thamilselvan, told reporters aftertalks with a Norwegian peace envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer. The rebels cut the water supply to government-heldvillages last month and the military responded withairstrikes and a ground assault that soon spread toadjoining areas, the Associated Press reported.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/381015