Troops yesterday inched further into the ‘No Fire’ Zone to rescue trapped civilians.

More civilians held as a human shield by the LTTE continued to flee to the government controlled area defying the orders by the Tigers, military sources said.

Director of the Media Centre for National Security, Lakshman Hulugalle said that the government has not entered into a Ceasefire with the LTTE, but the troops were not using any heavy weaponry.

"The SLAF had ceased airstrikes on LTTE targets as the Tigers are using the IDPs as human shields," he said.

Troops of the 58 Division were only 800 metres from the Tiger held area where Prabhakaran is holed up and his capture is imminent, military sources said.

The 57 Division captured a suicide craft 37 ft long and 10 ft wide left behind by Tigers when fleeing the Puthumathalan area.

According to military sources, the craft was powered by two 450 hp American built engines.

It could carry a load of around 250 kg of explosives and was capable of destroying any big attack craft.

The military is investigating as to how the two US built engines were smuggled into the area undetected.

Senior LTTE cadre Daya Master had told his interrogators that Prabhakaran had only three options: swallow the cyanide phial, lay down arms and surrender to the troops or flee the country.

Both Daya Master and George Master have divulged details of how the LTTE was forcibly conscripting civilians to fight the forces from Udayarkattu, Puthukuduyirippu and Puthumathalan areas and using them as human shields.