Shame on them. More..

According to defence commentator Taraki, the LTTE does appear to have been checkmated for the moment, thanks to relentless strafing by the Israeli-built Kfir fighter bombers.

"They seem to be helpless against the carpet-bombing of their positions by the deadly Kfirs. Possibly they will try to break out of their bunkers during a lull. Strafing cannot go on endlessly, they would be hoping," he said. More..

The Eelam People's Democratic Party, led by Douglous Devanand, has been more demanding, seeking humanitarian, military intervention in Jaffna on the lines of Tanzania's intervention in Uganda and Vietnam's move into Cambodia, both of which were upheld by the United Nations. "The lives of civilians are in danger, the only way to help the situation is by intervening militarily," Dr Wigneswara, spokesperson for EPDP, said. More..

The US administration has designted the LTTE as a "terrorist organisation," while India is expected to announce extension of the ban on the guerrilla outfit tomorrow. More..

In Colombo, the capital of this small island nation off India's southern coast, President Chandrika Kumaratunga called a Monday meeting of leaders of all political parties to discuss the latest fighting in the north, state-run radio said. More..

There is also the problem posed by extreme right-wing Sinhala groups who are opposed to any move towards federalism. Mr. Gamini Weerakoon, editor of The Island remarked, "Tell me about fringe groups -- these are formed by very respected people, who feel that the interests of the Sinhalese are being sacrificed by the majority parties for a political solution." More..

``Troops repulsed this attack causing terrorists to withdraw with their casualties,'' Rubasinghe said in a fax to The Associated Press. He also said army snipers killed seven rebels today between nine and 15 miles east of Jaffna.

Rubasinghe claimed that life was normal in Jaffna despite the battles. ``Residents are not showing any sign of panic and continue their day to day activities,'' he said. More..

The Lankan soldiers have often described how they are forced to confront LTTE battallions of women, teenage girls and boys, sometime as young as even 10. But, even the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) is not blameless. There are reports of underage soldiers in paramilitary forces like the Lankan Home Guards. More..

Tamil civilians were seen carrying their belongings and fleeing further north from the town of Jaffna, the officials from humanitarian operations in the island said.

"People are leaving Jaffna in large numbers," one said quoting reports from the area. "The residents were taking advantage of the lifting of a curfew there today." More..

However, the ground situation continued to belie the rebels' claim. Though the LTTE had claimed yesterday that Jaffna was "as good as gone", a political commentator said he had received a call from Jaffna that suggested life was normal and no fighting was reported in the vicinity. More..

At his meeting with the President the two are said to have had a general discussion on diverse issues such as the Sri Lankan air capacity and the President's desire to resolve the conflict and her personal sense of loss at the present situation. More..

That is why whenever LTTE gets an upper hand in Sri Lanka, many refugees are fleeing to Tamil Nadu. More..

It is understood that the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have chalked out contingency plans keeping in view the intensified campaign of the Sri Lankan forces against the LTTE in Jaffna. More..

In a joint operation security forces had destroyed the jetty at Sangupiddy, which links a spur from the mainland to the peninsula across the Jaffna lagoon. It said they had also destroyed a rebel communication centre in Pooneryn, which lies at the base of the spur. More..

Though, Air Marshal Tipnis was tightlipped, he is likely to brief the leadership here of the security situtation in Sri Lanka, fallout of the present fighting in Jaffna and views of Sri Lankan leaders on outside mediation to resolve the Tamil issue. More..

all but a few patients had been discharged from the city hospital -- which has about 1,000 beds -- because an army camp was nearby, and there was a shortage of medical supplies such as antibiotics and surgical materials. more...

''There are over 40,000 armed forces and police personnel stationed in the peninsula. Their families are concerned not only about their safety but also their welfare and transportation to and from Jaffna ... It should be our concern as well. More..

Urging the embattled soldiers to fight hard to defend the Northern Peninsula, Chandrika, who is also the commander in chief of the armed forces, described the ongoing battle for the control of Jaffna as the most "Decisive Movement" in the history of the ethnic conflict. More..

The leader of the main opposition party branded the intensifying war as the island nation's ``greatest crisis'' since independence in 1948 and urged the government to protect the 500,000 civilians on the battle-scarred peninsula. More..

Energy Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte vowed in parliament Tuesday that soldiers would defend Jaffna to the last man and would also mount a fresh offensive to retake the Elephant Pass base located at the entrance to the peninsula. "We will fight to the last man and defend Jaffna," said Ratwatte who is also the junior defence minister. More..

Mr. Rubasinghe also said that the army had launched a counter-attack causing heavy casualties among the rebels. The government has cut off telephone services in Jaffna to prevent supporters of the LTTE from giving them information. More..