A BUS PACKED WITH CIVILIANS CROSS TO THE REBEL CONTROLLED AREA AT VAVUNIYA, 2002-08-19 (photo)

A bus packed with civilians crosses to the rebel-controlled area of the country from the government-run south at the northern Sri Lankan village Omantha in the town of Vavuniya on August 19, 2002. Hundreds of civillians cross to the other side of the country after the A-9 road was re-opened following a truce pact between the government and separatist Tamil guerrillas. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called on the country to be patient with the peace process underway between the government and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. The two sides have been sticking to the terms of a Norwegian-brokered truce agreement and will meet for direct talks in Thailand in mid-September. REUTERS/Anurudhha Lokuhapuarachchi AL/CP