The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are fighting for a separate homeland and still control areas of the north after losing control of the eastern region in July. The conflict escalated last year as two attempts at peace talks in Geneva failed to make progress.

More than 1,100 abductions and ``disappearances'' were reported since the February 2002 truce between Sri Lanka and the LTTE broke 20 months ago, Human Rights Watch said in a report on Aug. 6. The killings and abductions of civilians had ``dramatically increased,'' the New York-based group said.

The U.S. is concerned about the situation in Jaffna in the island's north where the most fundamental rights of people to be secure are being violated almost daily, Blake said.

``The number of extrajudicial killings in Jaffna has risen even higher in recent months,'' Blake said. ``Trials, convictions and jail terms for those found guilty would help demonstrate the government's intention to address the climate of impunity that is of concern to human rights defenders.''

Journalist Deaths

The killing of journalists, especially Tamil journalists, and other threats to the freedom of expression are ``a blemish'' on a country with Sri Lanka's democratic traditions and must be stopped, Blake said.

While the U.S. will support Sri Lanka's fight to defend itself against terrorist attacks by Tamil Tigers, the Bush administration favors talks to end the conflict plaguing the nation, Blake said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour is in Sri Lanka to study the human rights situation and will meet government officials and representatives of civil society, the defense ministry said in a statement.

Rajitha Senaratne, a member of a ministerial monitoring committee on abductions and disappearances, appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said the government is committed to the agreement in the UN Declaration for Human Rights. ``Sri Lanka also respects their desire to look into any such alleged violations,'' he said in the statement.

The government has taken ``satisfactory measures'' to protect the rights of civilians in every possible way, Senaratne said.

The LTTE's estimated 12,000 fighters control areas in northern Sri Lanka after being driven out of the Eastern Province in July following 14 years of conflict. The LTTE said Sept. 24 any peace settlement must be based on a homeland for Tamils.

To contact the reporter on this story: (Jay Shankar in Bangalore at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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