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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tamil Tiger 'command hub taken' | Tamil Tiger 'command hub taken' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Sri Lanka's army says it has captured what it believes is the main operations centre of Tamil rebels in the north. | Sri Lanka's army says it has captured what it believes is the main operations centre of Tamil rebels in the north. |
| Army spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said troops had found detailed maps of army and rebel deployments in an empty building in Mullaitivu district. | Army spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said troops had found detailed maps of army and rebel deployments in an empty building in Mullaitivu district. |
| Meanwhile the UN has criticised the Tigers for not allowing safe passage to its workers in areas they control. | Meanwhile the UN has criticised the Tigers for not allowing safe passage to its workers in areas they control. |
| There has been no comment from the Tamil Tigers, who have suffered a series of reverses in recent months. | There has been no comment from the Tamil Tigers, who have suffered a series of reverses in recent months. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| The rebels are now confined to their sole remaining stronghold in the north - the area surrounding the town of Mullaitivu. | The rebels are now confined to their sole remaining stronghold in the north - the area surrounding the town of Mullaitivu. |
| There are fears for some 250,000 civilians trapped in the fighting. The pro-rebel TamilNet website has accused the army of shelling a hospital in Mullaitivu district. | |
| On Wednesday the military said it had designated a safe zone for civilians as it pushes ahead with its offensive in the Mullaitivu area. | On Wednesday the military said it had designated a safe zone for civilians as it pushes ahead with its offensive in the Mullaitivu area. |
| There is no way of confirming any of the claims as independent journalists are barred from conflict zone. | There is no way of confirming any of the claims as independent journalists are barred from conflict zone. |
| 'Key centre' | 'Key centre' |
| Brig Nanayakkara said that the operations centre captured by the army consisted of an auditorium and a communications room. | Brig Nanayakkara said that the operations centre captured by the army consisted of an auditorium and a communications room. |
| Concern is growing for the safety of people in the conflict area | Concern is growing for the safety of people in the conflict area |
| "We believe that this was their main operations room because it is located close to a three- storeyed bunker, which troops came across during clearing operations in the Dharmapuram area." | "We believe that this was their main operations room because it is located close to a three- storeyed bunker, which troops came across during clearing operations in the Dharmapuram area." |
| He said that troops found a detailed map of Sri Lanka which showed rebel positions and army deployments up to brigade level. | He said that troops found a detailed map of Sri Lanka which showed rebel positions and army deployments up to brigade level. |
| "We think it is a very significant place. This must have been a key centre they used." | "We think it is a very significant place. This must have been a key centre they used." |
| He said that the captured centre was partially underground. | He said that the captured centre was partially underground. |
| The army claims came as the UN issued what it said was "its strongest possible protest" to the Tamil Tigers. | The army claims came as the UN issued what it said was "its strongest possible protest" to the Tamil Tigers. |
| It accused them of refusing to allow UN staff to return from rebel-held areas where they travelled last Friday to deliver food and emergency supplies to displaced people. | It accused them of refusing to allow UN staff to return from rebel-held areas where they travelled last Friday to deliver food and emergency supplies to displaced people. |
| "The UN calls on the Tamil Tigers to meet their responsibilities and immediately permit all UN staff and dependents to freely move from this area," a statement said. | "The UN calls on the Tamil Tigers to meet their responsibilities and immediately permit all UN staff and dependents to freely move from this area," a statement said. |
| "The denial of safe passage is a clear abrogation of their obligations under international humanitarian law." | "The denial of safe passage is a clear abrogation of their obligations under international humanitarian law." |
| The convoy was the 11th to take supplies to people in the war-affected areas. Since October the UN says it has delivered about 7,000 tons of food and relief supplies. | The convoy was the 11th to take supplies to people in the war-affected areas. Since October the UN says it has delivered about 7,000 tons of food and relief supplies. |
| On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's military said it had set up a safe zone for civilians on the A-35 main road which links Paranthan and Mullaitivu. | On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's military said it had set up a safe zone for civilians on the A-35 main road which links Paranthan and Mullaitivu. |
| Human rights groups and aid agencies have raised concerns over the safety of people living in the conflict area. They want security guarantees from both sides so they can take aid and medical equipment to the north, and evacuate wounded and ill people. | Human rights groups and aid agencies have raised concerns over the safety of people living in the conflict area. They want security guarantees from both sides so they can take aid and medical equipment to the north, and evacuate wounded and ill people. |
| TamilNet said that the intensive care unit at Mullaitivu hospital had been destroyed by army artillery fire overnight. | TamilNet said that the intensive care unit at Mullaitivu hospital had been destroyed by army artillery fire overnight. |
| It said that the unit "was serving scores of wounded civilians" and had been "rendered completely out of function." | It said that the unit "was serving scores of wounded civilians" and had been "rendered completely out of function." |
| "There are several dead bodies on the sides of the road and under the trees of the hospital," TamilNet said, "and all the medical staff and the patients who managed to move sought refuge in the bunkers and continue to remain there as shells continue to explode." | "There are several dead bodies on the sides of the road and under the trees of the hospital," TamilNet said, "and all the medical staff and the patients who managed to move sought refuge in the bunkers and continue to remain there as shells continue to explode." |
| The military has strongly denied being responsible. | |
| 'Move the war' | 'Move the war' |
| The campaign group, Human Rights Watch, recently accused the rebels of preventing people from fleeing the conflict area. Aid agencies say there are about 250,000 civilians in rebel-held areas. | The campaign group, Human Rights Watch, recently accused the rebels of preventing people from fleeing the conflict area. Aid agencies say there are about 250,000 civilians in rebel-held areas. |
| The ICRC has appealed for the dead to be taken to Vavuniya | The ICRC has appealed for the dead to be taken to Vavuniya |
| But the Tamil Tigers say that they are protecting civilians who voluntarily move with them. | But the Tamil Tigers say that they are protecting civilians who voluntarily move with them. |
| Correspondents say the rebels are also trying to move the war to the east. | Correspondents say the rebels are also trying to move the war to the east. |
| The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for 25 years. At least 70,000 people have been killed in the insurgency. | The Tamil 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. |
| 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. |
| The military is on high alert to prevent the possible escape of top Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, although some analysts say it is unlikely he will be captured alive. | The military is on high alert to prevent the possible escape of top Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, although some analysts say it is unlikely he will be captured alive. |
| MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return | MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return |