S Lanka to crack down on terror but no rebel ban-official

COLOMBO, Dec 6 (Reuters) Sri Lanka will introduce tough emergency regulations to curb terrorist activities amid escalating civil war with the Tamil Tigers, but will not ban the rebels outright, a senior government official said today.

''There will be strong curbs, punishing curbs on terrorist activities, which will involve LTTE activities and all persons who in anyway help them,'' the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity after the cabinet made the decision.

''They will be emergency regulations,'' he added. ''A ban was never on the table.'' He did not specify what kind of regulations would be imposed, but officials have said the government will likely reinforce the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which has been dormant since a now-tattered 2002 truce, following a failed suicide attack on President Mahinda Rajapakse's brother.

REUTERS SP SND1230