No let up in military offensive against LTTE: Rajapakse

Signalling that there will be no let up in military offensive against the LTTE, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has said the army was trying to liberate the main rebel strongholds of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu in the embattled north.

''We are trying to relieve the people of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu of terror under LTTE leader V Prabhakaran,'' he said.

''The government is making efforts to allow them to enjoy the freedoms and rights of human beings in a democratic state in the same manner the people of the Eastern Province were now enjoying,'' Rajapakse said at a university function in Kandy, about 80 kms northeast of Colombo, on Saturday.

The president vowed to break the backbone of terrorism, which, he said can not be allowed to prevail but added that political issues cannot be resolved through the gun.

The president said that an environment conducive for children has been created in eastern Sri Lanka after much effort and the same would be done for children of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu after it is liberated.

He sought the cooperation of the common people in this endeavour.

Steps have been taken to restore democratic rights of the people by the elected representatives in the Eastern Province, the president added.

Fighting has escalated between government troops and the LTTE since Colombo pulled out of the 2002 ceasefire this month, leaving hundreds of people dead.

Source: NDTV