31.   Soldiers were Friday building new defences in the area they had captured, officials said.

32.   The accord provides for demobilisation of the rival armies, the formation of a new joint defence force and a political settlement.

33.   The coalition adopted a new long-term defence outline in late November.

34.   The figure covered arms purchases and allocations for new defence and security projects and salaries for soldiers and other security forces.

35.   The military said the army repulsed two attempts by the LTTE to infiltrate the new defence lines.

36.   The integration into the new defence force of former African National Congress guerrillas was continuing, the IISS said.

37.   The new mid-term defence plan follows the adoption of a new long-term defence outline in late November.

38.   The new defence secretary is Michael Portillo.