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Troops assault key Sri Lanka pass Army 'takes key Sri Lanka pass'
(about 2 hours 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 has captured Elephant Pass, the strategic causeway linking the Jaffna peninsula with the mainland, the president has said.
Troops took Kilinochchi, the political headquarters of the Tamil Tiger rebels last week and then marched north. Mahinda Rajapaksa said Tamil Tiger rebels had been completely dislodged. The Tigers have made no comment yet.
Soldiers have also advanced south from Muhamalai, the northernmost defensive line of the rebels in Jaffna, which was captured on Tuesday. Troops took Kilinochchi, the HQ of the rebels, last week and began a pincer movement on Elephant Pass.
There has been no word yet on the latest fighting from the Tigers. The Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for 25 years and have held the pass since 2000.
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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."
Separately, the military said a roadside bomb set off in the east by rebels had killed seven people.Separately, the military said a roadside bomb set off in the east by rebels had killed seven people.
De facto stateDe facto state
President Rajapaksa said in a televised address: "Today evening our troops liberated Elephant Pass fully."
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.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. Other troops had reached the southern outskirts of the 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.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.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.Sri Lanka's government has vowed to destroy the Tigers.
At least 70,000 people have been killed in the 25-year rebel insurgency.At least 70,000 people have been killed in the 25-year rebel insurgency.
The bomb blast in the east took place at Morawewa, outside the city of Trincomalee, on Friday morning as a convoy escorted by troops passed by, a statement on the defence ministry website said.The bomb blast in the east took place at Morawewa, outside the city of Trincomalee, on Friday morning as a convoy escorted by troops passed by, a statement on the defence ministry website said.
The dead included three air force personnel. Six people were injured in the attack.The dead included three air force personnel. Six people were injured in the attack.
The pro-Tamil Tiger website TamilNet meanwhile reported that Sri Lankan army artillery fire had killed at least four people at Tharmapuram, which it says is a centre of displaced civilians.The pro-Tamil Tiger website TamilNet meanwhile reported that Sri Lankan army artillery fire had killed at least four people at Tharmapuram, which it says is a centre of displaced civilians.
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