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| Sri Lanka army 'closes rebels in' | Sri Lanka army 'closes rebels in' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Sri Lankan army is closing in on remaining Tamil Tiger positions, confining them to an area of about 200 sq km (124 sq miles), officials say. | The Sri Lankan army is closing in on remaining Tamil Tiger positions, confining them to an area of about 200 sq km (124 sq miles), officials say. |
| Troops are near Puthukudiyiruppu village, which officials describe as the last major rebel position. | Troops are near Puthukudiyiruppu village, which officials describe as the last major rebel position. |
| State media say 2,500 civilians managed to flee the conflict zone recently. | State media say 2,500 civilians managed to flee the conflict zone recently. |
| The Red Cross, which says scores of civilians have died in the fighting, reported on Friday that its Colombo offices had been stoned by protesters. | The Red Cross, which says scores of civilians have died in the fighting, reported on Friday that its Colombo offices had been stoned by protesters. |
| UN chief's call | UN chief's call |
| The BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan says that if the army captures Puthukudiyiruppu, the rebels will be confined only to small villages, coastal areas and jungles, where close-quarter fighting will be intense. | The BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan says that if the army captures Puthukudiyiruppu, the rebels will be confined only to small villages, coastal areas and jungles, where close-quarter fighting will be intense. |
| Senior Tiger leaders have not commented on the latest military claims. The UN says it now has no communication links with them. | Senior Tiger leaders have not commented on the latest military claims. The UN says it now has no communication links with them. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| However the pro-rebel TamilNet website again accused the army of shelling a hospital. It released photos of dead people at Puthukudiyiruppu hospital, which it said came under fire on Wednesday and Thursday. | However the pro-rebel TamilNet website again accused the army of shelling a hospital. It released photos of dead people at Puthukudiyiruppu hospital, which it said came under fire on Wednesday and Thursday. |
| The government has displayed pictures of soldiers with rebel uniforms | The government has displayed pictures of soldiers with rebel uniforms |
| Independent journalists are prevented by the government from travelling to war-hit areas, so there is no way of getting independent corroboration of either side's claims. | Independent journalists are prevented by the government from travelling to war-hit areas, so there is no way of getting independent corroboration of either side's claims. |
| Aid agencies and the UN continue to remain concerned about the plight of thousands of civilians who it is feared are trapped between the two sides. | Aid agencies and the UN continue to remain concerned about the plight of thousands of civilians who it is feared are trapped between the two sides. |
| The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation said that more than 2,500 civilians have recently managed to flee the diminishing area the rebels still control and another 3,000 were "waiting to come over." | The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation said that more than 2,500 civilians have recently managed to flee the diminishing area the rebels still control and another 3,000 were "waiting to come over." |
| A government spokesman said that UN chief Ban Ki-moon has telephoned President Mahinda Rajapakse to discuss the plight of the non-combatants. It said he was given an "assurance" they would not be harassed. | A government spokesman said that UN chief Ban Ki-moon has telephoned President Mahinda Rajapakse to discuss the plight of the non-combatants. It said he was given an "assurance" they would not be harassed. |
| On Friday the International Committee of the Red Cross said its main office in the capital was stoned by around 200 protesters who accused it of supporting the rebels. | |
| A spokesperson said: "A group of people came and shouted slogans and then started pelting stones at our office around noon. | A spokesperson said: "A group of people came and shouted slogans and then started pelting stones at our office around noon. |
| "A few windows were damaged, but there were no injuries to our staff... We are really concerned about this." | "A few windows were damaged, but there were no injuries to our staff... We are really concerned about this." |
| Correspondents say that attacks on aid agency premises in Colombo over the last decade have not been uncommon. | |
| Exhibition | Exhibition |
| On Thursday, the Sri Lankan army said that troops had captured a large quantity of automatic rifles, detonators and hand grenades from three rebel camps in the district of Mullaittivu. | On Thursday, the Sri Lankan army said that troops had captured a large quantity of automatic rifles, detonators and hand grenades from three rebel camps in the district of Mullaittivu. |
| INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19901993: President Premadasa killed by Tiger bomb2001: Attack on airport destroys half Sri Lankan Airlines fleet2002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2005: Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes president2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu In pictures: Inside 'Tiger bunker'Sri Lanka journalists 'risk death'Voices from Sri Lanka The army says that one of the camps belonged to the "Ratha unit" which provided security to rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. | INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19901993: President Premadasa killed by Tiger bomb2001: Attack on airport destroys half Sri Lankan Airlines fleet2002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2005: Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes president2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu In pictures: Inside 'Tiger bunker'Sri Lanka journalists 'risk death'Voices from Sri Lanka The army says that one of the camps belonged to the "Ratha unit" which provided security to rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. |
| The military also said on Thursday that it had captured the last major rebel naval base in the north-east. It said that the deputy leader of the rebel Sea Tigers unit was among the senior commanders killed in the fighting. | The military also said on Thursday that it had captured the last major rebel naval base in the north-east. It said that the deputy leader of the rebel Sea Tigers unit was among the senior commanders killed in the fighting. |
| Correspondents say that the fall of the Chalai base means that the Tigers now only have access to 20km (12 miles) of coastline in the north-east. | Correspondents say that the fall of the Chalai base means that the Tigers now only have access to 20km (12 miles) of coastline in the north-east. |
| The government earlier insisted there would be no ceasefire with the rebels, despite international calls for talks. | The government earlier insisted there would be no ceasefire with the rebels, despite international calls for talks. |
| "There is no question of negotiations on surrender. The rebels should surrender unconditionally. They should lay down their arms first," Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. | "There is no question of negotiations on surrender. The rebels should surrender unconditionally. They should lay down their arms first," Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. |
| He rejected any amnesty for top rebel leaders, but said that "lower level cadres" would be "given amnesty, retrained, given vocational training and integrated into mainstream society". | He rejected any amnesty for top rebel leaders, but said that "lower level cadres" would be "given amnesty, retrained, given vocational training and integrated into mainstream society". |
| Meanwhile the government has opened an exhibition in Colombo showcasing materials, weapons and photos it says have been recently captured from the rebels. | Meanwhile the government has opened an exhibition in Colombo showcasing materials, weapons and photos it says have been recently captured from the rebels. |
| MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return | MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return |
| Have you been affected by the violence? Do you have relatives in Sri Lanka? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by the violence? Do you have relatives in Sri Lanka? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |