JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: To south Asia, where Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels warn that 40,000 government troops holed-up in Jaffna Peninsula face a "bloodbath" if they do not surrender by Friday. CNN's Satinder Bindra is in the capital, Colombo, with details. His report was cleared by government censors.</s>SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Demonstrating for democracy, all political protests are banned in Sri Lanka, but these demonstrators brave tear gas and a police water cannon to send their president, Chandrika Kumaratunga, a message. "These regulations are not meant to alleviate the problems of the people," says this man, "but to suppress our freedoms." As rebel forces in the north continue to force government troops to retreat, an embattled president has further tightened press censorship, including reports by international journalists. Recently, she shut down two newspapers, saying such measures are necessary because her nation is in crisis. There is no question there is a crisis. Even the president's closest advisers now admit they're worried about the fate of 40,000 trapped government troops facing rebel fire in the northern Jaffna Peninsula.</s>LAKSHMAN KADIRGAMAR, SRI LANKAN FOREIGN MINISTER: You must be concerned in a situation like that because it is a situation of grave danger to the men. There is no doubt about that. We are saying that quite openly.</s>BINDRA: India has put its navy on full alert to help evacuate the soldiers. So far though Sri Lanka wants India to wait. (on camera): With no let up in the fighting, which has spread to Sri Lanka's east, the United States is now appealing for peace. The U.S. says everything must be done to help or evacuate civilians, otherwise it fears a humanitarian catastrophe. (voice-over): Efforts for peace, though, are not making headway. Sri Lanka's foreign minister says even if the rebels do manage to capture the north, the country's armed forces will do everything possible to recapture the territory. Satinder Bindra, CNN, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Tamil Tiger Rebels Warn of Bloodbath in Volatile Sri Lanka