Sources acknowledged that the plan was for US Air Force [Images] and US Navy units attached to its Pacific Command (PACOM) to go into the rebel-held hold-outs and evacuate these civilians faced with the prospect of fast-declining food and medicine stocks in these areas.

But sources said that a US team that had gone out to these areas "to look at the possibilities for just this kind of thing (evacuation)," had concluded that "this is not likely in the current situation because that is not what the military calls a 'permissive' environment -- which means the two sides are not firing at each other and the two sides both agree to this." More...Discuss this story Published: Wed Mar 11 23:28:27 EDT 2009

The army says that in the latest clashes it has killed a senior rebel leader, Sabaratnam Selvathurai.

The pro-rebel TamilNet website says more than 50 soldiers were killed in the clashes and army artillery seized.

There is no way of confirming either side's claims. Independent journalists are not allowed in the war zone.

Correspondents say that Sabaratnam Selvathurai is one of the oldest confidantes of the rebel leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran. His death, if confirmed, would be a major blow to their morale.

The military says that Mr Selvathurai - also known as Thamilenthi - was killed in fighting at the weekend around the rebel-held town of Puthukkudiyiruppu.

Sri Lanka's army website said he had been "confirmed killed in the weekend fighting in the north-east of Puthukkudiyirippu where over 150 dead bodies of Tiger terrorists were found after the clashes".

He would be the second senior leader to be killed in government attacks. In 2007, the head of the rebels' political wing, SP Tamilselvan, was killed in an air strike.

Rebel officials have not commented on reports of Mr Selvathurai's death. He was reportedly in charge of their financial unit. More... Published: Wed Mar 11 16:31:40 EDT 2009