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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lankan civilians found dead | Sri Lankan civilians found dead |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The bodies of 11 Muslim civilians have been found in a remote area in eastern Sri Lanka, the military has said. | The bodies of 11 Muslim civilians have been found in a remote area in eastern Sri Lanka, the military has said. |
| The bodies of the men, who had apparently gone to repair an irrigation system, were found in Ampara district. | The bodies of the men, who had apparently gone to repair an irrigation system, were found in Ampara district. |
| Tamil Tiger rebels were suspected of being behind the attack, army spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe said. There was no comment from the rebels. | Tamil Tiger rebels were suspected of being behind the attack, army spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe said. There was no comment from the rebels. |
| Months of heavy fighting have displaced more than 200,000 people in Sri Lanka. Hundreds have been killed. | Months of heavy fighting have displaced more than 200,000 people in Sri Lanka. Hundreds have been killed. |
| The military says the men had been working on a water project in Ampara on Sunday. When they failed to return home, a team went to investigate on Monday morning and found the bodies. | The military says the men had been working on a water project in Ampara on Sunday. When they failed to return home, a team went to investigate on Monday morning and found the bodies. |
| "They had gone to renovate a sluice gate and went missing. They have been found dead, hacked and chopped," an unnamed military spokesman quoted by the Reuters news agency said. | "They had gone to renovate a sluice gate and went missing. They have been found dead, hacked and chopped," an unnamed military spokesman quoted by the Reuters news agency said. |
| Another man was injured, but survived the attack. | Another man was injured, but survived the attack. |
| Increasing violence | Increasing violence |
| Ampara district is home to a large number of Sri Lanka's Muslim minority - Muslims are the third largest community in the country after the Sinhalese and Tamils. | |
| The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says that Muslims have been caught up in the increasing violence between the government forces and rebels. | The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says that Muslims have been caught up in the increasing violence between the government forces and rebels. |
| Tens of thousands were displaced from the north-eastern town of Muttur in July and August when fighting between the two sides forced them from their homes. | Tens of thousands were displaced from the north-eastern town of Muttur in July and August when fighting between the two sides forced them from their homes. |
| Norway brokered a ceasefire between Sri Lanka's government and the Tamil Tigers in 2002 which is still technically in place, despite the violence. | Norway brokered a ceasefire between Sri Lanka's government and the Tamil Tigers in 2002 which is still technically in place, despite the violence. |
| The two sides held a number of rounds of peace talks until the rebels pulled out in April 2003 saying they were being sidelined. | The two sides held a number of rounds of peace talks until the rebels pulled out in April 2003 saying they were being sidelined. |
| The government and rebels did meet earlier this year for talks aimed at shoring up the ceasefire, but made no headway. | The government and rebels did meet earlier this year for talks aimed at shoring up the ceasefire, but made no headway. |
| More than 60,000 people have been killed since the rebels began their fight the 1970s for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. | More than 60,000 people have been killed since the rebels began their fight the 1970s for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. |