However, the General (retired) said yesterday that the troops had followed his orders during the entire operation against the LTTE and thus he would take the responsibility for all actions of the security forces during that period.

"The Army acted on my orders and for everything that happened during that period, it is I, not soldiers, who must be held responsible," he said.

He also said that no LTTE cadre had come waving a white flag to surrender during the last battle against the LTTE and no soldier had violated national or international laws in fighting the war.