US Marines to stay longer in tsunami-hit Sri Lanka

The US Marines may well have to stay for a longer period in Sri Lanka after US Secretary of State Colin Powell's refusal to set a time frame for their departure. ''We will be here for a long period of time by the simple fact that our Embassies are here, our USAID missions are here and the US military forces are here in the region.

I can't tell you how long they will stay,'' Mr Powell said. ''There are other missions that have to be performed in due course,'' he added. Over 1500 US Marines are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow while some other military engineering units and medical personnel are expected in a next couple of days.


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