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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tamil Tiger rebels call ceasefire | Tamil Tiger rebels call ceasefire |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tamil Tiger rebels fighting government forces in north-east Sri Lanka have declared a unilateral ceasefire. | Tamil Tiger rebels fighting government forces in north-east Sri Lanka have declared a unilateral ceasefire. |
| A Tamil Tiger spokesman told the BBC the move was due to what he called an "unprecedented humanitarian crisis". | A Tamil Tiger spokesman told the BBC the move was due to what he called an "unprecedented humanitarian crisis". |
| The Sri Lankan defence secretary told the BBC he dismissed the announcement, calling it a joke. | |
| The rebels are surrounded by troops in a 12 sq km (5 sq m) area. The UN says more than 160,000 civilians have fled the area but 50,000 remain. | The rebels are surrounded by troops in a 12 sq km (5 sq m) area. The UN says more than 160,000 civilians have fled the area but 50,000 remain. |
| The rebels said the move was also in response to "the calls made by the UN, EU, the governments of India and others". | The rebels said the move was also in response to "the calls made by the UN, EU, the governments of India and others". |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, says the declaration is a sign that the rebels are feeling increasingly under pressure. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, says the declaration is a sign that the rebels are feeling increasingly under pressure. |
| The government, by contrast, feels it it is moving forward in its campaign against the Tigers and has had them on the back foot for a long time, he adds. | The government, by contrast, feels it it is moving forward in its campaign against the Tigers and has had them on the back foot for a long time, he adds. |