Most victims of the strife have been Government soldiers and Sinhalese civilians killed by rebels in the north and east, where most Tamils live.

During these massacres, 120 Sinhalese civilians were killed by LTTE cadres.

Tamil miltiants stepped up pressure on Indian forces and Sinhalese civilians in the Eastern Province today.

But after surrendering some weapons, the Tigers changed their mind and attacked both Sinhalese civilians and Indian soldiers.

Sinhalese civilians were equipped with voter registration lists, burning and attacking only Tamil residences and business, while army and government officials stood by.

Even Sinhalese civilians who harbored Tamil families in their households (or suspected of doing so) were set upon by the mobs.

In September 1999 the LTTE massacred 50 Sinhalese civilians at Gonagala.

The clash stepped up after negotiations toward greater Tamil autonomy broke down last winter amid terrorist incidents that left scores of Sinhalese civilians dead.

The rebels did not comply at first, however, and killed about 200 Sinhalese civilians.

The ambush of six vehicles in Trincomalee left 127 people dead, the majority of them Sinhalese civilians.