Anti-terror drive will continue - President

COLOMBO: The Government will not stop the drive against terrorism under any circumstances, President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared yesterday.

"There will be no room for terrorism. We will not stop the campaign against terror," he told senior media personnel at Temple Trees yesterday.

He said this battle will be continued in line with the mandate given to him by the people to restore peace. The LTTE bombing and killing spree would not lessen the Government's resolve in fighting terrorism.

"This is a war against terrorism, not against the Tamil people. I will not stop until terrorism is defeated," he stressed, adding that people in the North too will get the democratic and human rights now enjoyed by their Eastern brethren. The Government is committed to a political solution.

He said the LTTE, having suffered many battlefield reversals, was targeting civilians in sheer desperation. They are attempting to incite communalism through such acts. The Government would never let this happen.

He urged the public to be more vigilant of suspicious objects, persons and vehicles in their midst and to report any such instances to the authorities.

The President described the Eastern Provincial Council election as a landmark event as the Eastern people were now deciding on their own affairs after almost two decades. "There was some criticism that we were too swift with the Eastern election process. But we were keen to grant those people the right of franchise - a fundamental right. We are determined to repeat this process in the North."

He remarked that with the successful conclusion of the Eastern PC poll "we have sent a speedy message to the North from the East".

The President said the Government was ready for any election.