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Sri Lanka troops 'enter rebel HQ' Sri Lanka troops 'enter rebel HQ'
(about 2 hours later)
Sri Lanka's military says soldiers have entered the Tamil Tiger rebels' de facto capital Kilinochchi in the north for the first time in a decade.Sri Lanka's military says soldiers have entered the Tamil Tiger rebels' de facto capital Kilinochchi in the north for the first time in a decade.
Senior military officials said troops had entered the town from three sides.Senior military officials said troops had entered the town from three sides.
On Thursday, the military said it had seized the strategically important junction of Paranthan, a crossroads north of Kilinochchi.On Thursday, the military said it had seized the strategically important junction of Paranthan, a crossroads north of Kilinochchi.
There has been no word from the rebels but earlier this week, they said they were successfully defending the town. Tamil sources said the Tigers were providing stiff resistance and hundreds of civilians were fleeing the clashes.
The Sri Lankan army has been advancing towards Kilinochchi for months.The Sri Lankan army has been advancing towards Kilinochchi for months.
Troops fighting their way towards the town have faced determined resistance for months. name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the regionThe town was captured by the rebels 10 years ago.
name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region The BBC's Roland Buerk in Sri Lanka says Kilinochchi is a hugely symbolic target because it is where the Tigers have established their administrative headquarters and have assembled the trappings of the separate state they want for the ethnic Tamil minority.
Both sides have recently claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties on each other in the north of the island.Both sides have recently claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties on each other in the north of the island.
The town was captured by the rebels 10 years ago, and became their administrative headquarters.
Gained controlGained control
"The fall of Kilinochchi is imminent as the security forces have already entered into the town perimeter from the northern, southern and western edges," the defence ministry said in a statement."The fall of Kilinochchi is imminent as the security forces have already entered into the town perimeter from the northern, southern and western edges," the defence ministry said in a statement.
The troops gained control over the Karadipokku junction, located between Paranthan and Kilinochchi along the A-9 main road, on Thursday evening, the ministry said in a statement.The troops gained control over the Karadipokku junction, located between Paranthan and Kilinochchi along the A-9 main road, on Thursday evening, the ministry said in a statement.
The army has been fighting towards the town for months
The fighting for Paranthan was bitter and lasted for hours, the statement said.The fighting for Paranthan was bitter and lasted for hours, the statement said.
It said soldiers entered the small township in a concerted assault, but the Tamil Tigers launched a series of counter-attacks.It said soldiers entered the small township in a concerted assault, but the Tamil Tigers launched a series of counter-attacks.
There were fierce battles with government troops supported by fighter jets, helicopter gunships, artillery and mortar fire before the rebels withdrew in disarray, the ministry said. There were fierce battles with government troops supported by fighter jets, helicopter gunships, artillery and mortar fire before the rebels withdrew, the ministry said.
The military said at least 50 Tamil fighters were killed in the battle. The military said at least 50 Tamil Tiger fighters were killed in the battle.
The defence ministry said its success at Paranthan had effectively cut the main supply line to several Tiger strongholds in the north of Sri Lanka.The defence ministry said its success at Paranthan had effectively cut the main supply line to several Tiger strongholds in the north of Sri Lanka.
The rebels, who have fought for a generation for a separate state for the ethnic Tamil minority, did not comment on the battle for Paranthan. The pro-Tamil website TamilNet reported the Sri Lankan army's occupation of Paranthan, saying the army had suffered heavy losses and hundreds of civilians had been forced to flee.
But they said four civilians had been killed and 18 wounded by government air raids in the area they control.
There have been no independent reports of the latest fighting from the frontlines and it is impossible to verify either account of casualties.There have been no independent reports of the latest fighting from the frontlines and it is impossible to verify either account of casualties.
The head of the Tigers' political wing, B Nadesan, told the BBC recently they would be able to continue fighting even if they lost Kilinochchi.
The rebels would remain in possession of some territory to the east of the town down to Mullaitivu on the coast, although that too is under threat from government forces.
Correspondents say that while the government seems able to maintain the upper hand, heavy battles are likely still to lie ahead and there is concern about the fate of the large number of civilians in the Tiger-controlled north.Correspondents say that while the government seems able to maintain the upper hand, heavy battles are likely still to lie ahead and there is concern about the fate of the large number of civilians in the Tiger-controlled north.
The rebels deny using them as human shields and reject allegations they are forcing people into their ranks to fight.The rebels deny using them as human shields and reject allegations they are forcing people into their ranks to fight.
Kilinochchi remains a hugely symbolic target because it is where the Tigers have established their administrative headquarters, says the BBC's Roland Buerk in Sri Lanka.
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