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| Aid groups begin S Lanka retreat | |
| (about 3 hours 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 spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops were now just 5.5km (3.4 miles) away from the rebel headquarters at Kilinochchi. | |
| Aid agency dilemma in Sri Lanka | |
| 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. |
| Last week, the government told foreign aid workers to leave the area, saying it could not guarantee their safety. | |
| On Monday, the UN spokesman in Colombo, Gordon Weiss, told the BBC's Sinhala service that fighting had "increased considerably" with shelling coming close to the UN compound, making it "too dangerous to remain". | |
| 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. |