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Sri Lanka troops 'enter rebel HQ' Sri Lanka troops 'enter rebel HQ'
(40 minutes 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 and now had control of the main railway station in central Kilinochchi.Senior military officials said troops had entered the town from three sides and now had control of the main railway station in central Kilinochchi.
The Tamil Tigers have not commented on the military's latest claims.The Tamil Tigers have not commented on the military's latest claims.
In a statement on Thursday night, the Tigers said a further five civilians had been killed in airstrikes.In a statement on Thursday night, the Tigers said a further five civilians had been killed in airstrikes.
The Sri Lankan army has been advancing towards Kilinochchi for months.The Sri Lankan army has been advancing towards Kilinochchi for months.
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. 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.
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.
On Thursday, the military said it had seized the strategically important junction of Paranthan, a crossroads north of Kilinochchi, in a bitter fight that lasted for hours.On Thursday, the military said it had seized the strategically important junction of Paranthan, a crossroads north of Kilinochchi, in a bitter fight that lasted for hours.
The army has been fighting towards the town for months The army has been fighting towards Kilinochchi for months
It said soldiers entered the small township in a concerted assault backed by fighter jets, helicopter gunships, artillery and mortar fire.It said soldiers entered the small township in a concerted assault backed by fighter jets, helicopter gunships, artillery and mortar fire.
The Tamil Tigers launched a series of counter-attacks before withdrawing from a battle that left 50 rebel fighters dead, the military said.The Tamil Tigers launched a series of counter-attacks before withdrawing from a battle that left 50 rebel fighters dead, the military said.
Its claimed success at Paranthan had effectively cut the main supply line to several Tiger strongholds in the north of Sri Lanka, the statement went on.Its claimed success at Paranthan had effectively cut the main supply line to several Tiger strongholds in the north of Sri Lanka, the statement went on.
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.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.
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 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.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.
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