A police officer searches a cyclist on a street in Trincomalee, November 23, 2006. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers said on Thursday they were engaged in fierce fighting with the army in no-man's land in the island's restive east, with government troops with tanks trying to breach their defence lines. REUTERS/Stringer (SRI LANKA) 

Ethnic Tamil residents of northern Jaffna peninsula wait to board buses in northeastern Vavuniya, September 25, 2006, to travel to eastern Trincomalee, then to Jaffna by sea. Sri Lanka's navy sank 11 Tamil Tiger vessels and killed dozens of rebels in a fierce five-hour battle overnight, the military said on Monday, a fortnight after the foes agreed to resume peace talks to halt renewed civil war. REUTERS/Stringer (SRI LANKA) 

An elderly ethnic Tamil resident of northern Jaffna peninsula waits to board a bus in northeastern Vavuniya September 25, 2006, to travel to eastern Trincomalee, then to Jaffna by sea. Sri Lanka's navy sank 11 Tamil Tiger vessels and killed dozens of rebels in a fierce five-hour battle overnight, the military said on Monday, a fortnight after the foes agreed to resume peace talks to halt renewed civil war. REUTERS/Stringer (SRI LANKA) 

A Tamil man walks out of Seruwila II, a ferry chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate 161 Tamil foreign citizens and foreign nationals from Jaffna, at jetty in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 27, 2006. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A child cries as a policewoman searches her mother?s belongings after they evacuated from Jaffna, at a jetty in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 27, 2006. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Seruwila II, a ferry chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate Tamil foreign citizens and foreign nationals, arrives at Trincamlee jetty, in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 27, 2006. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A Tamil ethnic woman carries her child and disembarks Seruwila II, a ferry chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate 161 Tamil foreign citizens and foreign nationals from Jaffna, at a jetty in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 27, 2006. The first foreign nationals and aid workers to be evacuated from Sri Lanka's besieged north sailed into Trincomalee on Sunday, only to be met by volleys of rockets and artillery amid fresh fighting. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe.(SRI LANKA) 

A policeman searches an international aid worker's belongings at a jetty in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 27, 2006. The first foreign nationals and aid workers to be evacuated from Sri Lanka's besieged north sailed into Trincomalee on Sunday, only to be met by volleys of rockets and artillery amid fresh fighting. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A Tamil ethnic woman carries her child after disembarking Seruwila II, a ferry chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate 161 Tamil foreign citizens and foreign nationals from Jaffna, at jetty in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 27 2006. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Ethnic Tamil foreign citizens and foreign nationals evacuated from Jaffna line up for security checks before travelling to Colombo, at a jetty in Trincomalee Sri Lanka August 27, 2006 REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Seruwila II, a ferry chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate Tamil foreign citizens and foreign nationals, arrives at Trincamlee jetty, in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 27, 2006. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Men load goods for passengers on ferry Seruwila II in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 25, 2006. The ferry was chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate 150 mostly foreign nationals from the besieged northern Jaffna peninsula. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A Sri Lankan policeman walks in front of passenger ferry Seruwila II in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 25, 2006. The ferry was chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate 150 mostly foreign nationals from the besieged northern Jaffna peninsula. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Internally displaced children walk through a camp in Kantale near the northeastern town of Trincomalee August 24, 2006. Sporadic artillery fire and air strikes continued along the Jaffna peninsula on Thursday as an aid ship approached the city for the first time in nearly two weeks, residents and officials said. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Internally displaced people stand outside a camp in Kantale near the northeastern town of Trincomalee August 24, 2006. Sporadic artillery fire and air strikes continued along the Jaffna peninsula on Thursday as an aid ship approached the city for the first time in nearly two weeks, residents and officials said. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

An internally displaced family waits outside a camp in Kantale near the northeastern town of Trincomalee August 24, 2006. Sporadic artillery fire and air strikes continued along the Jaffna peninsula on Thursday as an aid ship approached the city for the first time in nearly two weeks, residents and officials said. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A child sweeps the ground in a camp for internally displaced people in Kantale near the northeastern town of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 24, 2006. Sporadic artillery fire and air strikes continued along the Jaffna peninsula on Thursday as an aid ship approached the city for the first time in nearly two weeks, residents and officials said. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe(SRI LANKA) 

An internally displaced family waits outside a camp in Kantale near the northeastern town of Trincomalee August 24, 2006. Sporadic artillery fire and air strikes continued along the Jaffna peninsula on Thursday as an aid ship approached the city for the first time in nearly two weeks, residents and officials said. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A naval gun boat passes a war ship while patrolling at the port in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, August 8, 2006. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels broke through military defences in the island's far north and overran army bunkers on Saturday, truce monitors said, as the fiercest fighting since a 2002 truce spread. Picture taken August 8, 2006. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

An internally displaced Muslim boy from the town of Mutur holds a lunch packet at a camp in Kantale, near the northeastern town of Trincomalee August 9, 2006. Water flowed to eastern Sri Lanka for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday after Tamil Tiger rebels lifted a blockade, but there was no end in sight to the worst fighting since the 2002 truce. REUTERS/ Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Internally displaced Muslims from the town of Mutur rest under a bullock cart at a camp in Kantale, near the northeastern town of Trincomalee August 9, 2006. Water flowed to eastern Sri Lanka for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday after Tamil Tiger rebels lifted a blockade, but there was no end in sight to the worst fighting since the 2002 truce. REUTERS/ Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Internally displaced Muslims from the town of Mutur reach for lunch packets at a camp in Kantale, near the northeastern town of Trincomalee August 9, 2006. Water flowed to eastern Sri Lanka for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday after Tamil Tiger rebels lifted a blockade, but there was no end in sight to the worst fighting since the 2002 truce. REUTERS/ Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Internally displaced Muslims from the town of Mutur reach for lunch packets at a camp in Kantale, near the northeastern town of Trincomalee August 9, 2006. Water flowed to eastern Sri Lanka for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday after Tamil Tiger rebels lifted a blockade, but there was no end in sight to the worst fighting since the 2002 truce. REUTERS/ Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Internally displaced Muslims from the town of Mutur rest at a camp in Kantale, near the northeastern town of Trincomalee August 9, 2006. Water flowed to eastern Sri Lanka for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday after Tamil Tiger rebels lifted a blockade, but there was no end in sight to the worst fighting since the 2002 truce. REUTERS/ Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

An internally displaced Muslim man from the town of Mutur sits at a camp in Kantale, near the northeastern town of Trincomalee August 9, 2006. Water flowed to eastern Sri Lanka for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday after Tamil Tiger rebels lifted a blockade, but there was no end in sight to the worst fighting since the 2002 truce. REUTERS/ Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A Sri Lankan policeman stands guard in front of a vehicle used by the French aid group Action Contre Le Faim during the funeral procession of its local staff in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 8, 2006. Workers from the aid group on Monday recovered the bodies of 17 local colleagues killed in a battle-scarred Sri Lankan town, taking them by tractor on Monday towards their families. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A woman places a flower on the coffin of her husband and daughter during their funeral procession near Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 8, 2006. They were both local staff members of the French aid group Action Contre Le Faim. Workers from the aid group recovered the bodies of 17 local colleagues found killed in a battle-scarred Sri Lankan town. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

The picture of Gansh Kavinha is pasted over her coffin during the funeral procession of the 17 local staff members of the French aid group Action Contr La Faim (AFC) near Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 8, 2006. Workers from the aid group recovered the bodies of 17 local colleagues found killed in a battle-scarred Sri Lankan town. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Relatives of the slain French aid group Action Contre La Faim's (ACF) local staff mourn during their funeral procession near Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 8, 2006. Workers from the aid group recovered the bodies of 17 local colleagues found killed in a battle-scarred Sri Lankan town. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A woman cries during the funeral procession of her slain husband and daughter near Trincomalee, Sri Lanka August 8, 2006. They were both local staff members of the French aid group Action Contre Le Faim. Workers from the aid group recovered the bodies of 17 local colleagues found killed in a battle-scarred Sri Lankan town. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Policemen stand guard at a hospital entrance during the post-mortem examination of bodies of slain workers from the international aid agency Action Contre La Faim (ACF), in Trincomalee, August 8, 2006. Explosions sounded in Sri Lanka's east on Tuesday as fighting between military and Tamil Tigers over water supplies entered a 14th day, and aid workers planned the burials of 17 slain local staff. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A Sri Lankan policeman inspects empty coffins to be delivered to the slain workers of international aid agency Action Contre La Faim (ACF), at a hospital entrance in Trincomalee, August 8, 2006. Explosions sounded in Sri Lanka's east on Tuesday as fighting between military and Tamil Tigers over water supplies entered a 14th day, and aid workers planned the burials of 17 slain local staff. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Soldiers and policemen stand guard during the delivery of the bodies of slain workers from French aid group Action Contre La Faim (ACF) to a hospital in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, early August 8, 2006. Workers from ACF -- Action Against Hunger in English -- recovered the bodies of 17 local colleagues found killed in the northeastern town of Mutur, where they were working on rebuilding after the 2004 tsunami, taking them by tractor on Monday towards their families. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

A tractor containing the bodies of slain workers from French aid group Action Contre La Faim (ACF) arrives at a hospital in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, early August 8, 2006. Workers from ACF -- Action Against Hunger in English -- recovered the bodies of 17 local colleagues found killed in the northeastern town of Mutur, where they were working on rebuilding after the 2004 tsunami, taking them by tractor on Monday towards their families. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe (SRI LANKA) 

Tamil woman Nagarajan Manomany, 48, cries after arriving at a refugee camp in northeastern Trincomalee from the government-held town of Mutur August 7, 2006. She is missing her 22-year-old son Vijayan. Residents who fled fighting in northeast Sri Lanka on foot accused both troops and Tamil Tiger rebels of beating and seizing civilians as they escaped. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

Tamil villagers fleeing the government-held town of Mutur when Tamil Tiger rebels infiltrated the town rest at a refugee camp in northeastern Trincomalee August 7, 2006. Residents who fled fighting in northeast Sri Lanka on foot accused both troops and Tamil Tiger rebels of beating and seizing civilians as they escaped. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

Tamil children fleeing the government-held town of Mutur when Tamil Tiger rebels infiltrated the town stay in a refugee camp in northeastern Trincomalee August 7, 2006. Residents who fled fighting in northeast Sri Lanka on foot accused both troops and Tamil Tiger rebels of beating and seizing civilians as they escaped. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

A Tamil woman fleeing the government-held town of Mutur when Tamil Tiger rebels infiltrated it look out from a window at the refugee camp in northeastern Trincomalee August 7, 2006. Residents who fled fighting in northeast Sri Lanka on foot accuse both troops and Tamil Tiger rebels of beating and seizing civilians as they escaped. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

Tamil villagers fleeing the government-held town of Mutur when Tamil Tiger rebels infiltrated the town rest at a refugee camp in northeastern Trincomalee August 7, 2006. Residents who fled fighting in northeast Sri Lanka on foot accuse both troops and Tamil Tiger rebels of beating and seizing civilians as they escaped. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

A Muslim boy, who fled from the Mutur battle front between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels, stands in front of a shelter at a refugee camp in Kantale, northeast of Trincomalee, August 6, 2006. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

A Sri Lankan government soldier looks back as he walks through the northeastern town of Mutur August 5, 2006. Days of fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels rendered the road south from Mutur impassable and the military are only able to re-supply by sea. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

A wounded woman is evacuated by a naval patrol craft from the Mutur battle front at the Sri Lankan government eastern navel base in eastern Trincomalee, August 5, 2006. Days of fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels rendered the road south from Mutur impassable and the military are only able to re-supply by sea. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

Navel special boat members in an assault boat look out for Tamil Tiger rebel assault boats in Mutur August 5, 2006. Days of fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels rendered the road south from Mutur impassable and the military are only able to re-supply by sea. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

A Sri Lankan government soldier takes cover from possible attack by Tamil rebels in the northeastern town of Mutur August 5, 2006. Days of fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels rendered the road south from Mutur impassable and the military are only able to re-supply by sea. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

Sri Lankan government soldiers recover the body of colleagues in the northeastern town of Muttur August 5, 2006. Days of fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels rendered the road south from Mutur impassable and the military are only able to re-supply by sea. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

Sri Lankan government soldier drink water as he walks through the northeastern town of Muttur in August 5, 2006. Days of fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels rendered the road south from Mutur impassable and the military are only able to re-supply by sea. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

Naval personnel keep watch for possible rebel's assault in Muttur, eastern Sri Lanka, August 5, 2006. Days of fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels rendered the road south from Mutur impassable and the military are only able to re-supply by sea. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

Naval gunner in a patrol craft guard the costal line near the Muttur sea, eastern Sri Lanka, August 5, 2006. Days of fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels rendered the road south from Mutur impassable and the military are only able to re-supply by sea. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

Naval personnel jump ashore from a Sri Lankan assault boat near the eastern town of Mutur August 5, 2006. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

Navel personnel unload ammunition from an assault boat near the eastern town of Mutur August 5, 2006. Days of fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels rendered the road south from Mutur impassable and the military are only able to re-supply by sea. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

A Sri Lankan government soldier moves through the eastern town of Mutur August 5, 2006. Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said they had halted an offensive on a government-held town in the east on Saturday and were pulling back, a sign that conflict on the island may be easing off. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi 

A man carries a baby and walks together with thousands civilians evacuees from the town of Mutur, northeast Trincomalee August 4, 2006. Artillery fire thunders in the background as thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims fleeing an eastern war-torn town arrive at this village by bus, tractors, motorcycles and on foot. Reuters/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

Sinhalese civilians, evacuating in a tractor, pass an armed policeman in the town of Serunuwara, northeast Trincomalee August 4, 2006. Artillery fire thunders in the background as thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims fleeing Mutur arrive at this village by bus, tractors, motorcycles and on foot. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

Muslims evacuate from the Mutur battle front, between the government military and Tamil Tigers, to a government-controlled safe area in Thoper village, eastern Trincomalee August 4, 2006. Artillery fire thunders in the background as thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims fleeing an eastern war-torn town arrive at this village by bus, tractors, motorcycles and on foot. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

Muslims evacuated from the Mutur battle front between the government military and Tamil Tigers, climb into a truck after arriving at the government controlled safe area in Thoper village, eastern Trincomalee August 4, 2006. Artillery fire thunders in the background as thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims fleeing Mutur arrive at this village by bus, tractors, motorcycles and on foot. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

Muslims, evacuated from the Mutur battle front between the government military and Tamil Tigers, walk to a government controlled safe area in eastern Trincomalee August 4, 2006. Artillery fire thunders in the background as thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims fleeing Mutur arrive at this village by bus, tractors, motorcycles and on foot. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

A truck carries Muslim civilian evacuees from the town of Mutur, northeast Sri Lanka August 4, 2006. Artillery fire thunders in the background as thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims fleeing Mutur arrive at this village by bus, tractors, motorcycles and on foot. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

A truck carrys civilian Muslim evacuees from the town of Mutur, northeast Sri Lanka August 4, 2006. Artillery fire thunders in the background as thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims fleeing Mutur arrive at this village by bus, tractors, motorcycles and on foot. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

A Muslim girl holds a white flag as she travels in truck evacuating from town of Mutur, northeast Sri Lanka August 4, 2006, after heavy fighting between government and Tamil Tiger rebels in eastern Trincomalee. Artillery fire thunders in the background as thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims fleeing Mutur arrive at this village by bus, tractors, motorcycles and on foot. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA) 

Muslims evacuate from the Muttur battle front, between the government military and Tamil Tigers, to a government-controlled safe area in Thoper village, eastern Trincomalee, August 4, 2006. Artillery fire thunders in the background as thousands of Sri Lankan Muslims fleeing an eastern war-torn town arrive at this village by bus, tractors, motorcycles and on foot. REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi (SRI LANKA)