The rebels' former eastern commander, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, also known as Karuna, split from the group along with some 6,000 trained fighters, including many children. "The LTT specifically targeted for re-recruitment the 1,800 or more child soldiers released by the Karuna faction after its April defeat," the group said. The mainstream rebel group crushed the renegades in April. Many political rivals, mainly those perceived as Muralitharan loyalists, have been killed by the Tigers during the year, the group said. Tamil Tigers fought a 19-year civil war against the government to carve out a separate state for ethnic minority Tamils, accusing the majority Sinhalese of discrimination. The conflict killed more than 65,000 people. However, the situation improved with a 2002 Norway-brokered ceasefire, which continues to hold despite infractions. Peace talks broke down in April 2003 when the rebels withdrew after demanding more autonomy in Tamil-majority areas.  Krinshan Francis.

15 Iraqi soldiers were missing and feared kidnapped

BAGHDAD- Insurgents fired rockets on an Iraqi military bus west of the capital Friday and 15 Iraqi soldiers were missing and feared kidnapped, an Iraqi officer said, as rebel violence and intimidation escalated ahead of this month's national election. The attack occurred near Baghdadi, about 230 kilometres west of the capital, when assailants fired rocket-propelled grenades at the bus en route to a U.S. military garrison, said a guard officer who identified himself only as Lt.-Col. Hesham. He said the bus burst into flames, but no bodies were found, raising fears the troops had been taken prisoner. Elsewhere, the U.S. military said Friday that three soldiers were killed in two separate clashes the previous day. And Iraqi police ambushed a group of gunmen in a Sunni neighbourhood of Baghdad known as a stronghold of Saddam Hussein supporters, killing seven of them, Capt. Ahmed Ismael said. The ambush occurred near the Abu Hanifa mosque, whose clerics are outspoken opponents of the January election. The bus attack was the latest in a growing number of assaults on Iraqi security forces as the country prepares for balloting. Iraqis will choose a 275-member legislature in the first election since the ouster of Saddam's regime in April 2003. The Bush administration hopes the election will be a major step in the building of Iraqi democracy and set the stage for the eventual withdrawal of American and international military forces. Although Iraq's long-suppressed Shiite Muslim majority is expected to vote in huge numbers, Sunni Arab clerics have called for a boycott and Sunni insurgents have threatened to disrupt the voting, fearing a loss of power to the Shiites. Despite the rebel threats, U.S.-led coalition troops plan to stay in the background during the balloting, turning over primary security responsibility to the Iraqi forces, which have faced criticism for poor performance and training. Brig.-Gen. Jeffery Hammond, deputy commander of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, warned of a surge in bombings and other violence as the election draws near and stressed there is no guarantee Iraqi and American forces could stop a spectacular attack causing mass casualties. "If I told you I could guarantee that, then I'd be a fool," Hammond told reporters Friday. He also acknowledged that the rebel campaign of violence and intimidation could keep some Baghdad residents away from the polls. In Mauritius, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Friday that conditions for elections in Iraq are "far from ideal" and Iraqi officials should intensify efforts to make the vote inclusive.