"Reconfirming the proclamation adopted at the Tamil Uprising (movement) in Vavuniya on 27 July 2005 and subsequent endorsements at Batticaloa, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Mullaittivu and Jaffna, the Tamil people in Trincomalee once again congregated at Kadatkaraichchenai in Muttur east on Tuesday 10th January 2006, (and) reiterated the demand to the Sri Lanka military to quit the parts of Tamil Homeland that it occupies," the LTTE said. More... Discuss this story Published: Wed Jan 11 17:11:34 EST 2006

The report follows the strongest-ever warning by United States that the Tamil Tiger rebels resist any resumption of their armed struggle for a separate homeland, with Washington making a veiled threat that it would give strong backing to the Sri Lankan government in the conflict.

The Island newspaper said the 30mm guns would be mounted on vessels similar to the one that was attacked on Saturday in what authorities allege was a suicide attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Speaking to business leaders in the capital Colombo on Tuesday, U.S. ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead that if ``the LTTE chooses to abandon peace ... we want it to be clear, they will face a stronger, more capable and more determined Sri Lankan military.''

Since Dec. 4, 61 Sri Lanka security personnel have died in attacks blamed on the Tamil Tigers, raising concern that the country was sliding back into decades of warfare that has left 65,000 dead and 1.6 million displaced since 1983.

The Island said a high-level delegation from Sri Lankan navy was expected to leave for China later this week to discuss the weapons purchase.

The Defense Ministry was not available to confirm the report, but Beijing has in the past been a major weapons supplier to Sri Lanka.

Lunstead said the U.S. was helping - through relief and rescue military training and assistance programs - to ``shape the ability of the Sri Lankan government to protect its people and defend its interests.''

``There can be a role for the LTTE in future development of Sri Lanka, but only if it returns to the peace table, renounces terrorism in word and deed and become a responsible participant in Sri Lanka's future,'' he said.

The rebels are banned in the U.S. as a terrorist organization.

Discuss this story Published: Wed Jan 11 03:11:10 EST 2006