The World : 291 Tamil Suspects Freed

Sri Lanka released the first group of 291 suspected Tamil militants from jail and sent them home on an Indian naval ship in line with the July 29 peace accord aimed at ending the island nation’s guerrilla war and providing a separate Tamil state in the north and east. About 5,000 suspected Tamil extremists are being held in camps and jails around the country. More are expected to be released as additional Tamil rebels surrender their arms under the accord. India is serving as guarantor of the pact with a peacekeeping force of about 4,000.