Sri Lanka yesterday warned Tamil Tiger rebels that they were testing the limits of the government's tolerance with their stepped-up attacks against political rivals. Government spokesman Mangala Samaraweera said the Tiger killings undermined the Norwegian-backed peace, but added that the government was keen to avoid a return to war. "We don't want war," Samaraweera said. "War is not an option and we will not go back to war," he said after the Cabinet meeting. "For the sake of peace, we are willing to be very, very patient." "The recent incidents are not only a strain on the ceasefire but they test the threshold of tolerance of the government and the international community." Samaraweera, who is also the minister for ports, said the Tigers must match their words with deeds and return to the negotiating table to resolve allegations that the military was backing a rival Tiger faction. He denied that security forces were supporting the breakaway faction of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The government had earlier said it could not rule out individual members of the security forces acting on their own, but there was no "officially sanctioned involvement" in supporting the rebel renegades. Tigers were also accused of setting up new bunkers near government military installations in the island's northeast and engaging in gun-running. The Tigers rejected government claims that they were engaged in gun-running. Tigers' political wing leader S P Thamilselvan told mission chief Trond Furuhovde that they would not enter truce review meetings in protest at alleged army support for renegades. "The LTTE would not resume meeting with the Sri Lankan armed forces in the east until the killings of their cadres in the region are stopped," Thamilselvan was quoted as saying on the pro-rebel Tamilnet website. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Sri Lanka has warned Tamil Tiger rebels that they are testing the limits of the government's tolerance with their stepped-up attacks against political rivals. (AFP)