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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| S Lanka rebel defence 'breached' | S Lanka rebel defence 'breached' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sri Lanka's military says they have breached a key Tamil Tiger defensive line near the rebels' administrative headquarters in the island's north. | Sri Lanka's military says they have breached a key Tamil Tiger defensive line near the rebels' administrative headquarters in the island's north. |
| Officials said the rebels had suffered heavy losses, but there were no details of the casualties on either side. | Officials said the rebels had suffered heavy losses, but there were no details of the casualties on either side. |
| The Tamil Tiger rebels could not be reached for comment. | The Tamil Tiger rebels could not be reached for comment. |
| Soldiers have been pushing ahead with an offensive aimed at defeating the rebels and ending their fight for a separate state for the Tamil minority. | Soldiers have been pushing ahead with an offensive aimed at defeating the rebels and ending their fight for a separate state for the Tamil minority. |
| The government blocks independent journalists from going to the areas where the fighting is taking place. | The government blocks independent journalists from going to the areas where the fighting is taking place. |
| The long earth embankment was the last major defensive line protecting the Tamil Tigers' administrative headquarters of Kilinochchi, according to Sri Lanka's ministry of defence. | The long earth embankment was the last major defensive line protecting the Tamil Tigers' administrative headquarters of Kilinochchi, according to Sri Lanka's ministry of defence. |
| Soldiers captured it during fighting over the weekend, the ministry said. | Soldiers captured it during fighting over the weekend, the ministry said. |
| The ministry of defence also claimed the Tigers had used poisonous gas during the battles. | The ministry of defence also claimed the Tigers had used poisonous gas during the battles. |
| Capturing Kilinochchi would be a major symbolic victory for Sri Lanka's government - the rebels have run a civil administration from offices in the town. | |
| But many residents and rebels are reported to have abandoned it for areas further east still under Tamil Tiger control. | |
| Meanwhile Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the military has been instructed to avoid causing civilian casualties. | |
| There have been protests by some Tamils in southern India against the Sri Lankan military offensive. | There have been protests by some Tamils in southern India against the Sri Lankan military offensive. |
| Last week, the Indian government said a military victory would not end the ethnic conflict and called for a political settlement. | Last week, the Indian government said a military victory would not end the ethnic conflict and called for a political settlement. |
| The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for a quarter of a century and about 70,000 people have been killed in the violence. | The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for a quarter of a century and about 70,000 people have been killed in the violence. |