``There is a broader space available to interact with all sections of the Tamil community,'' the government said in a commentary marking the sixth anniversary of the signing of the truce. Most groups were ``left out of a participatory role due to the highly restrictive and limiting scope'' of the agreement.

The LTTE said it was ``shocked and disappointed'' when the government formally ended the cease-fire on Jan. 16, accusing the group of using the truce to boost its forces and plan attacks.

The LTTE, which has fought for 25 years for a separate homeland in Sri Lanka, suffered its worst defeat in July when it was ousted from the eastern region. Its estimated 7,000 fighters hold bases only in the north of the South Asian island nation and are facing almost daily attacks by the army on their front lines. More... Discuss this story Published: Tue Feb 26 22:04:59 EST 2008

The fighting came as government forces repeatedly crossed into northern rebel-held territory to destroy Tamil Tiger fortifications and put the separatist group on the defensive, the military said.

In one confrontation, government troops penetrated the front lines Monday in the Vavuniya area, sparking a battle that killed five rebels and one soldier, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara. Another battle in the same region killed six rebels, he said.

Fighting in the Jaffna peninsula north of the rebels' de facto state killed three rebels, while a mine blast killed one soldier, he said.

The newly reported deaths, added to previous military numbers, brought Monday's death toll to 21 rebels and three soldiers, according to the military. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan was not immediately available for comment.

The two sides often give vastly different casualty figures. Independent confirmation is unavailable because journalists are barred from the conflict zone.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 to create an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's minority ethnic Tamils after decades of being marginalized by governments controlled by the majority Sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflictDiscuss this story Published: Tue Feb 26 08:24:12 EST 2008

The show called 'Illam Kaatru' (Wind of Eelam) is scheduled to be held in the Great Hall in Hatch End in Harrow on March 1 by the Tamil Youth Organisation, which allegedly has links with the banned LTTE, sources said in London on Tuesday.

The previous show at London's Alexandra Palace flopped as South Indian stars refused to come after adverse More... Discuss this story Published: Tue Feb 26 11:06:44 EST 2008