Airforce on Wednesday afternoon deployed a reconnaissance off Mullaitivu after Airforce headquarters was informed of detection of a ship carrying arms for the LTTE, a senior security forces officer said last night.

A pair of Kfirs was also ordered to fly over the area and engage the ‘target’ the source said adding that however the aircraft did not engage the ship. "It was in the international waters," the source said. There were no other craft near it, the source said adding that the Airforce observed a cluster of boats, probably fishing trawlers about 40 nautical miles away from the ship, but did not engage them. [SF]