JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The government of Sri Lanka Monday rejected a proposal from rebels for a cease fire. The Tamil Tigers are fighting for an independent homeland in northern Sri Lanka. CNN's Satinder Bindra reports on the fighting that has killed some 1,000 combatants in the past few weeks.</s>SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Sri Lankan government said it will step up attacks against rebel Tamil Tiger forces in the north after rejecting the rebels' offer for a cease fire. The cease-fire proposal was made from the rebels' London office on Monday. The rebels offered to stop shelling an estimated 35,000 troops in northern Sri Lanka if the Sri Lankan government agreed to a withdrawal, but Sri Lanka has rejected the offer, dismissing it as a psychological ploy by rebels who it says are facing a tough fight. Over the past one week after rebel forces scored a string of military victories, Sri Lanka has been appealing to the international community for help. Sri Lanka's foreign minister recently met India's prime minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, in New Delhi. On Monday, India's chief of air staff, Anil Tipnis (ph), was given a red carpet welcome in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo. Despite all the diplomatic warmth, India says it will not intervene militarily. However, India says it's considering humanitarian assistance for Sri Lankan troops. India says it's also willing to mediate, but only if both sides are willing. With no signs that both parties will agree to Indian mediation, analysts predict fighting will intensify in this civil war which has already killed 60,000 people. Satinder Bindra, CNN, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan Government Rejects Cease-Fire Proposal From Rebels Fighting For Independent Homeland