India views Sri Lankan rebels as threat

NEW DELHI, May 14 (UPI) -- India says the air capability of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels could pose a threat to vital southern installations.

Interior Minister Shivraj Patil, addressing a New Delhi seminar organized by the Interior Ministry, expressed concern over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's reported air capability.

He said the government would take all steps to protect atomic energy installations and ports. Patil said the government was aware of the need to provide foolproof, multilevel security for key atomic plants, establishments of the Indian Space Research Organization and other institutions across the country, The Hindu reported Wednesday.

"There is a need to pool our efforts, have better coordination and upgrade our technological skills to secure our installations, which are critical to our country," he said.

The LTTE is fighting for a separate homeland for the ethnic Tamil people in the north and east of Sri Lanka, India's southern neighbor. India has its own large Tamil population.