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| 'Scores die' in Sri Lanka clashes | 'Scores die' in Sri Lanka clashes |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| More than 90 Tamil Tiger fighters have been killed in a battle with security forces, Sri Lanka's military says, hours after 11 died in a naval clash. | More than 90 Tamil Tiger fighters have been killed in a battle with security forces, Sri Lanka's military says, hours after 11 died in a naval clash. |
| Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said the soldiers were fighting to capture the last rebel stronghold in the north of the country. | Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said the soldiers were fighting to capture the last rebel stronghold in the north of the country. |
| Officials earlier said 11 rebels were killed and four of their vessels destroyed in a sea battle. | Officials earlier said 11 rebels were killed and four of their vessels destroyed in a sea battle. |
| It has not been possible to confirm the government's account independently. | It has not been possible to confirm the government's account independently. |
| Brig Nanayakkara said security forces had recovered the bodies of 93 rebels killed in Puthukkudiyiruppu - thought to be their last stronghold. | |
| He said it was "one of the biggest blows for the Tigers recently". | |
| The military has repeatedly claimed that it is near victory in the country's long-running civil conflict. | |
| Before the latest battle, the government said more than 100 rebels had been killed in recent days. | |
| The pro-Tamil website Tamilnet claimed that the army had killed 90 civilians and hurt 195 others in three days of attacks. | |
| Fears for civilians | |
| Earlier UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over reports that tens of thousands of civilians trapped in the conflict zone are at extreme risk. | |
| A statement by his office in New York said Mr Ban "deplores the forced recruitment of civilians, particularly children" and urged the Tamil Tigers to let them leave the area. | |
| It said the "severe restrictions on their freedom of movement violate international law". | |
| Mr Ban also reminded the government "of its responsibility to protect civilians, and to avoid the use of heavy weapons in areas where there are civilians, as promised". | |
| Both warring sides deny the accusations. |