Rebels 'will go underground'

Colombo: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers will go underground rather than "fight to the last man" once a northern offensive that has cut their strength to 3,000 fighters from 12,000 nears its end, Sri Lanka's army chief said on Thursday.

Lieutenant-General Sarath Fonseka also said he had no clear timeframe for retaking territory held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), because his aim was killing all of the insurgents rather than seizing ground.

"We don't want to end up in a situation like in Iraq when you're moving fast, but you left behind a whole army who will resort to guerrilla tactics," Fonseka said in an interview at Army Headquarters in the capital Colombo.

"Therefore I don't give a timeframe," said the 38-year-veteran who was appointed army commander in 2005.

The military in the last three months has stepped up an 18-month-old drive to wipe out the Tamil Tigers - regarded as one of the world's most resilient guerrilla groups.