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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Army 'takes key Sri Lanka pass' | Army 'takes key Sri Lanka pass' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Sri Lankan army has captured Elephant Pass, the strategic causeway linking the Jaffna peninsula with the mainland, the president has said. | The Sri Lankan army has captured Elephant Pass, the strategic causeway linking the Jaffna peninsula with the mainland, the president has said. |
| Mahinda Rajapaksa said Tamil Tiger rebels had been completely dislodged. The Tigers have made no comment yet. | Mahinda Rajapaksa said Tamil Tiger rebels had been completely dislodged. The Tigers have made no comment yet. |
| Troops took Kilinochchi, the HQ of the rebels, last week and began a pincer movement on Elephant Pass. | Troops took Kilinochchi, the HQ of the rebels, last week and began a pincer movement on Elephant Pass. |
| The Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for 25 years and have held the pass since 2000. | The Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for 25 years and have held the pass since 2000. |
| De facto state | De facto state |
| President Rajapaksa said in a televised address: "Our forces have recorded another historic victory. That is the complete dislodging of the Tigers from Elephant Pass and the security forces establishing their authority there." | President Rajapaksa said in a televised address: "Our forces have recorded another historic victory. That is the complete dislodging of the Tigers from Elephant Pass and the security forces establishing their authority there." |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| On Thursday, troops coming south 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 south from Muhamalai took over the rebel base at Pallai and then advanced 5km (3 miles) further south to capture Sorampattu, the military said. |
| Other troops had reached the southern outskirts of the pass after taking Kilinochchi and Paranthan. | Other troops had reached the southern outskirts of the pass after taking Kilinochchi and Paranthan. |
| Is this the end for the rebels? | |
| Analysts say the government is now in control of the A9 highway and can supply troops and the residents of Jaffna by land. The rebels had held a 100km (60 mile) stretch since 2000, forcing the government to use expensive sea and air routes. | Analysts say the government is now in control of the A9 highway and can supply troops and the residents of Jaffna by land. The rebels had held a 100km (60 mile) stretch since 2000, forcing the government to use expensive sea and air routes. |
| The news of the capture sparked celebration among many residents of the capital Colombo. | The news of the capture sparked celebration among many residents of the capital Colombo. |
| 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. At least 70,000 people have been killed in the 25-year rebel insurgency. | Sri Lanka's government has vowed to destroy the Tigers. At least 70,000 people have been killed in the 25-year rebel insurgency. |
| The focus now falls on the sole remaining major Tiger base, at Mullaitivu in the east. | The focus now falls on the sole remaining major Tiger base, at Mullaitivu in the east. |
| The ministry of defence website says the army is making steady ground along the A35 road from Paranthan to Mullaitivu. | The ministry of defence website says the army is making steady ground along the A35 road from Paranthan to Mullaitivu. |
| 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. |
| The blast 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 blast 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. |
| MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return | MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return |