The Tiger statement said that "Ever since the offensive campaign began for the liberation of Jaffna, the Tamil Tigers have been advising the Tamil civilian masses in the combat zones to move to secure areas to avoid being caught in the crossfire."

The LTTE claim that it has also approached the International Committee of the Red Cross and other human rights organisations in the peninsula to help to evacuate civilians to safe areas.

At the time of filing this report the ICRC could not confirm if indeed it had received such a request from the Tigers. Published: Fri May 26 23:39:26 EDT 2000

The President however reiterated that in the event the ground situation in Jaffna were to deteriorate, she could not let the LTTE hack to death nearly 30,000 soldiers. In which case, the government would make the necessary decision to meet such an eventuality, she said. Published: Fri May 26 23:39:27 EDT 2000

V. Anandasagari, Secretary for the TULF has asked that the discussion with the President on proposed constitutional reforms be put on hold until the current crisis in the northern peninsula improves. The joint discussion scheduled last Thursday May 25, was postponed for Monday as the President was unwell. Published: Fri May 26 23:39:27 EDT 2000

In six months' time, the boy will leave his home province of Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka and travel out, perhaps to Colombo. There, he will strap a belt filled with explosives across his slight body and walk steadily toward a congested traffic light or a public meeting somewhere in the city. When he reaches his destination, Vasantha will press a button attached to his belt and instantly detonate an explosion that will kill him and possibly dozens of those around him. More... Published: Fri May 26 22:45:33 EDT 2000

Latest reports said that 14 of the LTTE were killed in Nagarkovil, Navatkuli and other areas, even as the LTTE continued to launch sporadic artillery and mortar attacks on defences manned by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) troops in Chavakachcheri. More... Published: Fri May 26 21:56:50 EDT 2000

File photo of USS Elliot, a Destroyer in 5th fleet

According to well-placed sources here the Fifth Fleet consists of three to four ships, including a guided missile destroyer, a frigate and support ships. The sources said these ships are likely to move around in the south Arabian Sea from where the US can monitor developments in the conflict zone. More... Published: Fri May 26 20:33:05 EDT 2000

The ceasefire announcement, to run from 1000 local time (0400GMT) on Saturday, came after UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed for the safety of civilians - numbering nearly 500,000 on the peninsula - and for humanitarian workers to have safe passage.. More.. Published: Fri May 26 16:56:43 EDT 2000

heavy artillery fire at rebel positions. The artillery attacks came in retaliation for sporadic rebel shelling and mortar attacks on army defenses in the Chavakachcheri area north of Jaffna, Sri Lankan spokesman and chief government censor Ariya Rubasinghe said Thursday. More.. Published: Fri May 26 12:40:07 EDT 2000

Military officials in Colombo said that there were no reports of fighting in Jaffna peninsula on Friday morning, but expected large-scale attacks on government forces as the deadline to withdraw was closing-in.

On Wednesday, Tamil rebels appealed in their clandestine radio, the Voice of Tigers, to all soldiers in northern Jaffna peninsula to withdraw by Friday if not face the bloodiest consequences in the 18 years of war.

President Chandrika Kumaratunge responding to the appeal said in an interview with Hindu newspaper it was a "joke". But the military officials said that all troops in the peninsula were put on alert and in a pre-emptive action, ground attack air crafts known as Kfirs were strafing LTTE artillery positions along the highway, that links Jaffna and Vavuniya.

Amidst fears of heavy fighting, the US and French naval ships were anchored off the coast of Sri Lanka to monitor the situation. Tamil Tiger rebels are fighting to create an independent homeland for minority Tamils for the past 18 years which had left over 75,000 people killed. Published: Fri May 26 02:40:21 EDT 2000

The group in a statement faxed to the newspaper offices in Colombo said that Norwegian government is the "international agent" of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), now involved in bloody battles with government troops at the doorstep of northern Jaffna peninsula.

The Norwegian mission located at a posh Colombo residential area was attacked with two hand grenades at local time 8.35 pm Wednesday. The building suffered minor damages in the attack.

"We will take serious actions against all those "agents" who pose a threat to Sri Lankan state", the statement read. The Norwegian mission was attacked just 24 hours after a high level Norwegian delegation left the country after holding discussions with president Chandrika Kumaratunge and opposition leader Ranil Wickrmasinghe.

The government of Norway agreed to mediate between LTTE and government in an attempt to bring the 18 years of bloody war that had claimed the lives of over 75,000 people.

Meanwhile, the government today blamed LTTE for the attack on a civilian target, late Wednesday night in which six civilians including two children were killed in eastern province.

The government said that civilians were killed when an artillery shell aimed at the Kalady military camp fell short of its target killing the civilians. Published: Thu May 25 10:34:51 EDT 2000

With the Tamil Tigers rapidly closing in on Jaffna, the rebels look all set to recapture their former capital. To discuss the possible tactics the LTTE could use to achieve its ends and find out if the Sri Lankan Army will fight to the last man or evacuate its troops before the fall of Jaffna, NDTV spoke to Lt. Gen. A S Kalkat. He is a former army commander and was Commander of IPKF--the peacekeeping force sent by India in October 1988 to assist the Sri Lankan government in its fight against the Tamil guerrillas. More.. Published: Thu May 25 09:07:49 EDT 2000

Mr. Wickremasinghe further added that when the UNP voted in favour of extending the present emergency regulations it was on a guarantee made by the government that it would amend certain sections which come under draconian laws imposed by President Chandrika Kumaratunge a month ago. Published: Thu May 25 04:23:26 EDT 2000

A press release from the Media Information Centre has blamed Tamil Tiger rebels for the incident. The LTTE since Tuesday this week has launched sporadic attacks on armed force bases situated in Sri Lanka's east, mainly the Sri Lanka Army base at eastern Vavunathivu and 23- 3 brigade headquarters at Batticaloa. Published: Thu May 25 04:23:26 EDT 2000

India, meanwhile say they have not yet been formally asked by the Lankan government and the LTTE to serve as mediators and help stop the war. Political analysts have noted, that in the event such a request is made, it will strengthen India's role as a superpower in the region. Published: Thu May 25 04:23:27 EDT 2000

The President is expected to brief Tamil party members on the devolution proposals, new constitutional reform changes and the progress made by both the UNP and PA, in joint discussions, on the proposed peace package. Published: Thu May 25 04:23:27 EDT 2000