FBI says LTTE has 'influenced' other terrorist organisations in the world

In a short report titled 'Taming the Tamil Tigers here in the US' the FBI says that the LTTE is the only terrorist organisation in the world that have killed two world leaders.

The LTTE is convicted for killing former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and accused of killing serving Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa.

Killing world leaders

The Tigers who have killed nearly 4000 people in the past two years have 'perfected suicide bombers' and 'pioneered the use of women in suicide attacks', according to the report.

(The LTTE) has launched suicide attacks, assassinated politicians (including a government minister this week and even the Sri Lankan President), taken hostages, and committed all of kinds of crimes to finance its operations FBI report

The FBI also accuse the LTTE of 'inspiring terrorist networks worldwide', including al Qaeda in Iraq.

Meanwhile, District Court in Maryland has sentenced a Sri Lankan national to 57 months in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to the LTTE.

Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, 37, is also convicted of attempting to export arms and munitions for the Tamil Tigers, according to US Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

Operatives arrested

Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa is to be deported from the US after serving his sentence.

An indonesian national Haji Subandi, 70, was sentenced on December 14, 2007 to 37 months in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to LTTE, money laundering and attempted exportation of arms and munitions.

The US authorities have arrested eleven suspects in the New York City on suspicion of supporting the LTTE.

The Tamil Tigers, who are fighting fro a separate state for Sri Lanka's Tamil populations, are banned as a terrorist outfit in the US, Canada, EU and India.

It is estimated that over 70,000 have been killed by both parties since LTTE began their armed struggle against the Sri Lankan state in 1983.