31.   A defence ministry official said retired military personnel were being mobilised to assist police and strengthen security in the run-up to the ballot and prevent post-election violence.

32.   A defence ministry official said the colonel is suspected of having been bribed by an official at a Korean agent working for Dassault.

33.   A defence ministry official, quoted by the ITAR-TASS agency, said the Chechen guerrillas had refused the latest Russian demands to surrender.

34.   A defence official said though that plans to take journalists to Jaffna were shelved after the blast that ripped through the two-storey building.

35.   A defence ministry official also refused to give the reasons behind the first such large-scale arrest of senior army officers.

36.   A defence official here said that the Tigers continued to fire volley after volley of mortars and rocket propelled grenades and small arms on the northern battlefront.

37.   A defence official said several commandos had sneaked into the centre of Jaffna in small groups to pave the way for thousands of soldiers massed on the outskirts.

38.   A defence ministry official confirmed that a probe had been opened, but gave no further details.

39.   A defence ministry official denied Indian reports that three Pakistanis were killed.

40.   A defence ministry official here said the Tigers also suffered heavy casualties but gave no figures.