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Indian intelligence agencies have reported of some movements of American ships and at least one US air craft in and around Sri Lanka. At least one long-range maritime aircraft of the United States Navy was seen flying over Jaffna on Friday. Sources said that it was probably on a reconnaissance mission. The American aircraft, a P3C, is said to have taken off from Diego Garcia, the Indian Ocean island where American forces have a task force. America moved its naval taskforce from the Gulf towards the Southern Arabian Sea early this week. The movements of the warships from the Gulf Task Force is believed to be an apparent show of solidarity with the Sri Lankan troops. The general direction of the ships was towards Colombo. According to Indian Navy sources, the ships in international waters have started moving sometime late on Wednesday. "They can move around in international waters. They don't need to inform us," said a senior naval officer. The Indian Navy has also been carrying out maneuvers in the Indian Ocean. Sources say that even though authorities in New Delhi have indicated that these manoeuvres as routine, they are actually an attempt to send a warning to the LTTE that the Indian authorities too stand behind the Sri Lankan government. Also ships from the southern Naval Command based at Cochin have begun moving to the country's southern tip. Sources have revealed that the move was a part of the preparations to launch an evacuation operation, if necessary. The ships are said to be "battle-ready", though the navy would commit itself only to humanitarian assistance. The eastern fleet based at Visakhapatnam too is battle-ready, sources said. In case an evacuation operation has to be undertaken, the navy will use its six landing craft, which can carry around 500 persons without weapons. Besides, it will requisition merchant vessels. "If both sides observe a cease-fire, we can complete the evacuation in a matter of days," the senior naval officer said.
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