This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7819386.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Troops assault key Sri Lanka pass | Troops assault key Sri Lanka pass |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Sri Lankan army says heavy fighting is under way as troops assault Elephant Pass, the strategic causeway linking the Jaffna peninsula with the mainland. | The Sri Lankan army says heavy fighting is under way as troops assault Elephant Pass, the strategic causeway linking the Jaffna peninsula with the mainland. |
| Troops took Kilinochchi, the political headquarters of the Tamil Tiger rebels last week and then marched north. | Troops took Kilinochchi, the political headquarters of the Tamil Tiger rebels last week and then marched north. |
| Soldiers have also advanced south from Muhamalai, the northernmost defensive line of the rebels in Jaffna, which was captured on Tuesday. | Soldiers have also advanced south from Muhamalai, the northernmost defensive line of the rebels in Jaffna, which was captured on Tuesday. |
| There has been no word yet on the latest fighting from the Tigers. | There has been no word yet on the latest fighting from the Tigers. |
| Some media reports said the pass had been taken but defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told Reuters news agency: "We haven't captured it. We are moving in and fighting is going on." | Some media reports said the pass had been taken but defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told Reuters news agency: "We haven't captured it. We are moving in and fighting is going on." |
| On Thursday, troops coming down from Muhamalai took over the rebel base at Pallai and then advanced 5km (3 miles) further south to capture Sorampattu, the military said. | |
| Sorampattu is 9km (5.5 miles) from Elephant Pass. | |
| The Tigers, who are fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east, had established a de facto state squeezed between government-controlled Jaffna in the north and the rest of the country. | |
| But the latest military offensive has forced the rebels to give up much of their territory. | |
| Sri Lanka's government has vowed to destroy the Tigers. | |
| At least 70,000 people have been killed in the 25-year rebel insurgency. |