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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Army pressures Tamil Tiger base | Army pressures Tamil Tiger base |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Heavy fighting is reported around the sole remaining Tamil Tiger stronghold of Mullaitivu in Sri Lanka as the army presses ahead with its offensive. | Heavy fighting is reported around the sole remaining Tamil Tiger stronghold of Mullaitivu in Sri Lanka as the army presses ahead with its offensive. |
| The defence ministry said troops had captured one "administration base" with jets bombing jungle hideouts. | The defence ministry said troops had captured one "administration base" with jets bombing jungle hideouts. |
| Rebel sources have not commented on the claim, but say civilians have been wounded by artillery fire. | Rebel sources have not commented on the claim, but say civilians have been wounded by artillery fire. |
| Meanwhile doctors in the recently captured town of Kilinochchi say that healthcare is breaking down. | |
| 'Exodus' | 'Exodus' |
| The army says that it is pressing ahead after capturing Kilinochchi - the rebels' administrative centre - and the strategically important Elephant Pass. | |
| Independent journalists are not allowed to report from the war zone so information regarding casualty figures cannot be verified. | |
| A defence ministry statement on Tuesday said there were "bitter clashes" around Mullaitivu - the rebels' remaining major base. | A defence ministry statement on Tuesday said there were "bitter clashes" around Mullaitivu - the rebels' remaining major base. |
| Is this the end for the rebels? | Is this the end for the rebels? |
| It said an administration base, training camp and bunker line had been captured. | It said an administration base, training camp and bunker line had been captured. |
| On Monday the military said it had attacked rebel positions from the air, including one base near Mullaitivu it said was known to be visited by rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. | On Monday the military said it had attacked rebel positions from the air, including one base near Mullaitivu it said was known to be visited by rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. |
| Since losing Elephant Pass, the main link to the Jaffna peninsula, last Friday, the rebels are operating in a region of jungle to the south of there and east of Kilinochchi. | Since losing Elephant Pass, the main link to the Jaffna peninsula, last Friday, the rebels are operating in a region of jungle to the south of there and east of Kilinochchi. |
| The Tigers have not commented on the military situation but the pro-rebel TamilNet website said that many civilians had been wounded on Tuesday morning by artillery fire in the region. | The Tigers have not commented on the military situation but the pro-rebel TamilNet website said that many civilians had been wounded on Tuesday morning by artillery fire in the region. |
| Meanwhile, in a letter to the Sri Lankan government the Kilinochchi Medical Association (KMA) said that doctors and patients were now in a "pathetic situation" as gunfire continued to resound around the area. | |
| The KMA said it was dealing with new civilian casualties every day and that ambulances could only be used infrequently. It said the situation was particularly difficult for pregnant mothers. | |
| The KMA said it might have to stop operating in the area. | |
| There has so far been no response from the government to the letter. | |
| But the government said separately it was fully prepared to handle "the mass exodus of civilians" the fighting with the rebels might cause. | |
| The Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for 25 years. At least 70,000 people have been killed in the insurgency. | The Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for 25 years. At least 70,000 people have been killed in the insurgency. |
| The rebels had established a de facto state squeezed between government-controlled Jaffna in the north and the rest of the country. | The rebels had established a de facto state squeezed between government-controlled Jaffna in the north and the rest of the country. |
Are | But the latest military offensive has forced the rebels to give up much of their territory. />Are you in Sri Lanka? What is your reaction to the latest military offensive? Send us your comments. |