1.   At least five people, including a civilian, were killed in skirmishes between government troops and Tamil tiger rebels, a military official said Wednesday.

2.   At least four people were killed in two separate confrontations between government troops and Tamil tiger rebels, a military official said Sunday.

3.   Navy fast attack craft and gunships which were escorting the convoy, had repulsed an initial attack by Tamil tiger rebels destroying two rebel boats.

4.   Tamil tiger rebels have stepped up attacks in eastern Sri Lanka since they were forced out of their stronghold in the northern Jaffna peninsula last month.

5.   Tamil tiger rebels have stepped up attacks in eastern Sri Lanka since they were forced out of their stronghold in the northern Jaffna peninsula, last month.

6.   Tiger rebels later set fire to the bus but the whereabouts of the two captives was not immediately known.

7.   Tiger rebels are fighting to establish an independent homeland in the north and east of the island where the two million Tamil minority is concentrated.

8.   Tiger rebels have been observing a unilateral truce since Christmas eve which the government has reciprocated.