INTERNATIONAL truce monitors have warned it is likely hundreds of civilians have been killed so far this month in Sri Lanka’s worst violence since a 2002 ceasefire.

SRI LANKAN forces yesterday launched a new air and ground offensive to wrest a key reservoir from Tamil rebels who have cut off water to 60,000 villagers, while the rebels claimed to have sunk a navy warship.

Sri Lanka reopened roads linking government and Tamil Tiger rebel-held territory today after two days of airstrikes against guerrilla areas ended, but the threat of a return to civil war remained amid continuing bloodshed.

MINE explosions killed five troops yesterday, and police found five decapitated bodies dumped in a rubber plantation, as violence that has pushed Sri Lanka to the brink of civil war showed no signs of letting up.

Mine explosions killed five government military personnel today, and police found five decapitated bodies dumped in a rubber plantation, as violence that has pushed Sri Lanka to the brink of civil war showed no signs of letting up.