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Sri Lanka invokes anti-terror law Sri Lanka invokes anti-terror law
(20 minutes later)
Sri Lanka's cabinet has announced sweeping new anti-terror measures after months of worsening violence between security forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. Sri Lanka's cabinet has announced sweeping anti-terror measures after months of worsening violence between security forces and Tamil Tiger rebels.
The new laws did not name the rebels and stopped short of an outright ban. Ministers stopped short of banning the rebels but tightened existing emergency laws which have been dormant since a 2002 ceasefire that is now in shreds.
"Due to increasing threat of violence, the cabinet has decided to strengthen the existing regulations," said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake. Security forces will have wide-ranging powers to search, arrest and question.
The cabinet meeting came just over a week after the rebels said a ceasefire with government troops was defunct. The cabinet meeting came just over a week after the rebels said the truce with government troops was defunct.
More than 3,400 people have been killed in Sri Lanka since late last year, the authorities say.
'Terrorist' ban'Terrorist' ban
"Due to increasing threat of violence, the cabinet has decided to strengthen the existing regulations," Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
The government said on Sunday its relationship with the rebels was under review.The government said on Sunday its relationship with the rebels was under review.
Two days earlier President Mahinda Rajapakse's brother, Gothabaya, survived a suicide bomb attack in Colombo, for which the rebels were blamed.Two days earlier President Mahinda Rajapakse's brother, Gothabaya, survived a suicide bomb attack in Colombo, for which the rebels were blamed.
Sri Lanka's government revoked its ban on the Tamil Tigers as part of negotiations which saw a truce agreed in 2002 and a number of rounds of peace talks.Sri Lanka's government revoked its ban on the Tamil Tigers as part of negotiations which saw a truce agreed in 2002 and a number of rounds of peace talks.
The rebels are still banned as terrorists by countries such as the US, India and the European Union. The rebels are still banned as terrorists by countries such as the US, India and across the European Union.
They are fighting for independence for minority Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka. About 65,000 lives have been lost since 1972.They are fighting for independence for minority Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka. About 65,000 lives have been lost since 1972.
More than 3,400 people have been killed in Sri Lanka since late last year, the authorities say.