31.   The guerrillas have been building up their positions in the east after the military captured their longtime stronghold of northern Jaffna town a year ago.

32.   The island is off the west coast of the Jaffna Peninsula, which the military captured from the guerrillas last month.

33.   The military captured the guerrilla stronghold of Jaffna city in December and extended its control over the rest of the peninsula in May.

34.   The military captured three men as they allegedly tried to plant a bomb at a shopping mall in Jakarta, a private television station reported Tuesday.

35.   The military on Thursday captured Point Pedro, a major sea port on the northern coast that was the last major guerrilla-held town in the peninsula.

36.   The peninsula was the main stronghold of the guerrillas until the military captured it in May last year.

37.   The military captured a town adjoining the Tamil rebel stronghold of Jaffna city Monday, but fierce resistance kept soldiers outside the city, officials said.

38.   The military captured the area from the guerrillas nearly two years ago.

39.   The military captured the two villages during its five-day offensive in the Jaffna Peninsula that ended Saturday.

40.   The military has captured about a quarter of the highway so far.