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Tigers 'abduct' 24 schoolchildren Tigers 'abduct' 24 schoolchildren
(about 1 hour later)
Tamil Tiger rebels have kidnapped 24 schoolchildren in eastern Sri Lanka, a military spokesman has announced.Tamil Tiger rebels have kidnapped 24 schoolchildren in eastern Sri Lanka, a military spokesman has announced.
Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC the children, mostly teenage girls, were taken away from a class in eastern Ampara area. Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC the children, mostly teenage girls, were taken in the eastern Ampara area.
The parents of the children have left for rebel-held territory to "talk to the rebels and persuade them to free the children," he said. Parents of the children have left for rebel-held territory to persuade the rebels to free the children, he said.
The rebels have not yet commented on the incident. A pro-rebel website quoting police sources said that 21 students had been kidnapped from class along with their tutor by a group of armed men.
The Tamilnet website said that the Tiger's military spokesman, Irasiah Ilanthirayan, was "awaiting clarification" over the incident from their district command in Ampara.
"If any of our members are involved in outlawed activities, the punishment would be severe," it quoted Mr Ilanthirayan as saying.
'Forced conscription'
Brig Samarasinghe said 21 girls and three boys, all teenagers, were preparing for a school examination when they were picked up by the rebels on Monday evening.Brig Samarasinghe said 21 girls and three boys, all teenagers, were preparing for a school examination when they were picked up by the rebels on Monday evening.
Tigers 'recruit children' Army 'seizes youths to fight'
"The incident was reported to the local police. The police have informed the peace monitors and the human rights commission," he said."The incident was reported to the local police. The police have informed the peace monitors and the human rights commission," he said.
Brig Samarasinghe said the children could have been taken away for "forced conscription".Brig Samarasinghe said the children could have been taken away for "forced conscription".
The issue of child recruitment has been a major point of difference between government, human rights and international organisations and the rebels.The issue of child recruitment has been a major point of difference between government, human rights and international organisations and the rebels.
The Tigers have in the past denied recruiting child troops.The Tigers have in the past denied recruiting child troops.
The rebels have been fighting for independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country. But they have been accused repeatedly of doing so by human rights groups and the UN throughout Sri Lanka's years of conflict.
At least 3,400 people have been killed in the conflict in the past year, the government says. More than 60,000 lives have been lost since 1972. The leader of a breakaway faction of the Tigers now, Colonel Karuna, has also been accused of recruiting child soldiers.
Last month, the United Nations children's agency, Unicef, said that "elements in the Sri Lankan military" were helping Col Karuna to abduct children to fight the Tamil Tigers.
A senior UN official said there was "credible evidence" that troops had rounded up children to fight with the renegade rebel group.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country.
At least 3,400 people have been killed in the conflict in the past year, the government says. More than 60,000 lives have been lost since the 1970s.