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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Sri Lankan troops 'not in hurry' | Sri Lankan troops 'not in hurry' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sri Lankan government forces are in no hurry to storm a designated "safe zone" to pursue Tamil Tiger rebels in the north-east, the defence secretary says. | |
| Gotabhaya Rajapakse's comments come a day after the military said it had confined the rebels to the so-called no-fire zone occupied by civilians. | |
| Officials said more than 400 rebels, including five senior commanders, were killed in Mullaitivu district. | |
| The rebels are yet to react to the military's version of events. | The rebels are yet to react to the military's version of events. |
| 'Significant milestone' | 'Significant milestone' |
| "We have no plans of going into the safe zone immediately. Our aim is to get the civilians safely out of the no-fire zone. So, we are watching at the moment," Mr Rajapakse said in an interview with the BBC. | "We have no plans of going into the safe zone immediately. Our aim is to get the civilians safely out of the no-fire zone. So, we are watching at the moment," Mr Rajapakse said in an interview with the BBC. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| His comments follow warnings by aid agencies that there may be heavy civilian casualties if the rebels fight back against the army's move to enter the safe zone. | His comments follow warnings by aid agencies that there may be heavy civilian casualties if the rebels fight back against the army's move to enter the safe zone. |
| 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 Rajapakse becomes president2006 Heavy fighting resumes2009 Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu | 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 Rajapakse becomes president2006 Heavy fighting resumes2009 Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu |
| It is estimated that there are between 40,000 and 100,000 civilians trapped in the safe zone, which is about 20 sq km of coastal area. | It is estimated that there are between 40,000 and 100,000 civilians trapped in the safe zone, which is about 20 sq km of coastal area. |
| Mr Rajapakse, the most senior civilian official in charge of the war, said there were indications that civilians were lining up to leave the area. | |
| More than 60,000 civilians have already fled the war zone in recent months and they have been housed in government-run relief centres and camps in the northern region. | More than 60,000 civilians have already fled the war zone in recent months and they have been housed in government-run relief centres and camps in the northern region. |
| "I don't think the Tamil Tigers can be a viable force any more. There are reports that there are lots of dissensions within the rebels. They can always surrender," Mr Rajapakse said. | "I don't think the Tamil Tigers can be a viable force any more. There are reports that there are lots of dissensions within the rebels. They can always surrender," Mr Rajapakse said. |
| The defence official once again denied allegations that security forces were firing into the safe zone. | The defence official once again denied allegations that security forces were firing into the safe zone. |
| The United Nations says more than 2,800 civilians may have been killed and 7,000 others injured in the fighting in the north-east in the last two months. | The United Nations says more than 2,800 civilians may have been killed and 7,000 others injured in the fighting in the north-east in the last two months. |
| The government disputes these figures. | The government disputes these figures. |
| The clashes between security forces and Tamil Tigers have intensified in recent weeks as the security forces are in what they say is a final push to defeat the rebels and end nearly three decades of conflict. | The clashes between security forces and Tamil Tigers have intensified in recent weeks as the security forces are in what they say is a final push to defeat the rebels and end nearly three decades of conflict. |
| Officials said the Tigers' last bastion, Puthukudiyiruppu region in Mullaitivu district, fell on Sunday after ferocious close quarter battles. | |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |