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Indonesia Raises its Tsunami Death Toll


Indonesia has added more than 7,000 people to the death toll from last month's earthquake and tsunami, bringing the total number of dead in that country to nearly 174,000.

Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab said Saturday that an estimated 100,000 people are still missing.

He added that the death toll may rise as officials begin focusing on rebuilding the devastated province.

Mr. Shihab also repeated the government's call for separatist rebels to resume peace negotiations.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have accused the government of obstructing aid deliveries to tsunami-affected areas under rebel control - a charge officials deny.

Rebel leaders met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen and another peace envoy in the rebel stronghold, Kilinochchi Saturday to discuss the disaster.

Mr. Petersen is in Sri Lanka for talks aimed at reviving peace efforts between the rebels and government, and assess the needs of tsunami-hit areas.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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