TAMIL TIGER WAR

The Tigers, who want an independent Tamil state within the south Asian country, have in recent months sparked an upsurge in violence.
The rebels, who feel the Tamil minority have been marginalised by successive governments controlled by Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority, have fought since 1983.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.






Civil war: The Tamil Tigers have wages a bloody struggle for their own homeland since 1983


Today all three men seized in Britain were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
They will be questioned later today at high security Paddington Green police station in central London.
The spokesman said: "At 6.30am today officers from Counter Terrorism Command supported by Dyfed-Powys Police executed search warrants at a number of residential and business addresses in Newtown, Powys.
"Further warrants were executed at addresses in Mitcham and Surrey. Three men were arrested.
"A 46-year-old and 39-year-old were arrested at separate addresses in Powys and a 33-year-old was arrested in Mitcham on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
"This is part of a long-term investigation into alleged funding and procurement activity in support of terrorism overseas and two people have already been charged in connection with this investigation.
"It is not linked to al Qaeda-type activity or inspired terrorism.
"It is in relation to support, procurement and fundraising for a proscribed organisation, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers)."
Nine rebels were today killed in fresh fighting across the front lines of the civil war, the military said Tuesday.
The scattered battles today took place across the Jaffna, Vavuniya and the Welioya fronts bordering the Tamil separatists de facto state in the north, the military said.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be reached for comment. Both sides ro utinely exaggerate enemy casualties while underreporting their own.