1.   Tiger guerrillas also attempted to overrun an army bunker south of Jaffna, killing two soldiers on Thursday at Thandankulam.

2.   Tiger guerrillas are fighting for independence in the northern and eastern regions where the two million Tamil minority is concentrated.

3.   Tiger guerrillas have been confined to the vast jungle tracks but the group has retained its military machinery to stage spectacular hit-and-run attacks.

4.   Tiger guerrillas have in the past been accused of bomb attacks and assassinations of key politicians in the Sri Lankan capital.

5.   Tiger guerrillas are also known to operate a few merchant vessels and ferry arms and ammunition that are often unloaded in mid sea and brought ashore in small craft.

6.   Tiger guerrillas are known to have fired surface to air missiles and the airforce has lost seven aircraft in the past one year.

7.   Tiger guerrillas claim the north-east as their traditional homeland.

8.   Tiger guerrillas have been trying to penetrate the defences of the Trincomalee port where navy craft had been blasted by LTTE suicide frogmen in the past.

9.   Tiger guerrillas also try to smuggle in weapons to the island via sea routes near Jaffna and the army assisted by the navy are on constant patrol.

10.   Tiger guerrillas are known to carry cyanide capsules with them to commit suicide to avoid being taken in by security forces.