Lankan Prez vows to hit back at LTTE

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has warned Tamil Tiger rebels not to take his patience for weakness and said his policy of air strikes was aimed at preventing a full-scale war.

Rajapakse said he was committed to a negotiated settlement to the Tamil separatist conflict, but would do everything possible to defend the country against attacks.

"My patience should not be misconstrued as weakness," he said in an interview published today in the Sunday Times newspaper, adding, "if they insist on continuing their attacks, I have to defend my country."

Rajapakse also urged the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to "cease violence" and resume negotiations with the government on ending the conflict.

He said many believed that the Tigers had declared 'war' when a suicide bomber tried to kill army chief Sarath Fosenka on April 25, but the government still respected the truce in place since 2002.

"I had to make sure that such dastardly attacks are not repeated. I have vowed to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka."

Rajapakse said the international community must pressure the Tigers to enter the peace negotiations.