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| Aid groups begin S Lanka pullout | Aid groups begin S Lanka pullout |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UN is pulling its staff out of Sri Lanka's rebel-held northern region after being ensured safe passage by government troops and rebels. | The UN is pulling its staff out of Sri Lanka's rebel-held northern region after being ensured safe passage by government troops and rebels. |
| Other aid agencies are also leaving, after being prevented from doing so over the weekend by displaced people. | Other aid agencies are also leaving, after being prevented from doing so over the weekend by displaced people. |
| The aid agencies' decision to withdraw comes as the government continues a major offensive against the rebels in northern areas of the island. | The aid agencies' decision to withdraw comes as the government continues a major offensive against the rebels in northern areas of the island. |
| The army says it is closing in on the rebel headquarters in Kilinochchi. | The army says it is closing in on the rebel headquarters in Kilinochchi. |
| This is the town where aid agencies in the north have been based. | This is the town where aid agencies in the north have been based. |
| The UN has said fighting in the area has "intensified enormously" in recent days, and it was time to get its staff and other humanitarian workers out. | The UN has said fighting in the area has "intensified enormously" in recent days, and it was time to get its staff and other humanitarian workers out. |
| Displaced | Displaced |
| Military's spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops were now just 5.5km (3.4 miles) away from the rebel headquarters at Kilinochchi. | Military's spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops were now just 5.5km (3.4 miles) away from the rebel headquarters at Kilinochchi. |
| The military is pushing ahead with a major offensive to defeat the Tigers and end their fight for a separate state for the Tamil minority. | The military is pushing ahead with a major offensive to defeat the Tigers and end their fight for a separate state for the Tamil minority. |
| The government does not allow independent reporters into conflict areas, and many lines of communication to the north have been cut. | The government does not allow independent reporters into conflict areas, and many lines of communication to the north have been cut. |
| Aid agencies estimate there are 160,000 people in rebel areas who have been displaced by the fighting. | Aid agencies estimate there are 160,000 people in rebel areas who have been displaced by the fighting. |
| Leaflets have been dropped urging them to move out. | Leaflets have been dropped urging them to move out. |
| Sources on the ground say civilians are fleeing Kilinochchi into areas to the east, and rebel fighters are going that way too. | Sources on the ground say civilians are fleeing Kilinochchi into areas to the east, and rebel fighters are going that way too. |
| Asked if he planned to obliterate the Tigers, Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa told foreign correspondents the military would try, but it would take time. | Asked if he planned to obliterate the Tigers, Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa told foreign correspondents the military would try, but it would take time. |
| The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been fighting for a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east for 25 years. More than 70,000 people have died. | The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been fighting for a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east for 25 years. More than 70,000 people have died. |