South African officials are looking into reports that the separatist group in Sri Lanka -- the Tamil Tigers -- may be setting up an operational base in Pretoria.

The officials say South Africa is committed to ensuring its territory cannot be used as a terrorist base, but they have very litle evidence that this is happening despite repeated expressions of alarm from the Sri Lankan authorities.

The prospect of a Tamil Tiger move into South Africa has followed suggestions that the group's London office may have to close because of new anti-terrorist laws in Britain.