Sri Lanka rejects rebels’ call for truce

THE Sri Lankan government, under intense pressure to prevent civilian deaths, said yesterday it would immediately stop air strikes and artillery attacks, but rejected calls for a ceasefire in its war against the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The effect of the decision was not immediately clear. The military says it stopped using such weapons weeks ago, but a rebel official said government air strikes continued even after the decision was announced.

Reporters are barred from the war zone.