Sri Lanka’s government said today it will not unilaterally violate a ceasefire with the Tamil Tiger rebels, but would do everything necessary to safeguard its citizens after the military accused the rebels of assassinating the country’s foreign minister.

Worldwide donations for tsunami relief approached the billion-dollar mark (€738.8m) today as the world’s ships and planes converged on devastated shores.

Aid began trickling through to survivors across the earthquake and tsunami-battered Indian Ocean today, but tons of emergency supplies continued to pile up at some overstretched airports as the death toll continued its inexorable rise.