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| Sri Lanka rebels call ceasefire | Sri Lanka 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". |
| Sri Lanka's defence secretary however dismissed the announcement as "a joke", insisting the rebels must surrender. | Sri Lanka's defence secretary however dismissed the announcement as "a joke", insisting the rebels must surrender. |
| The rebels have been beaten back to a 12 sq km (5 sq m) area. The UN says more than 160,000 civilians have fled from there, but 50,000 remain. | The rebels have been beaten back to a 12 sq km (5 sq m) area. The UN says more than 160,000 civilians have fled from there, but 50,000 remain. |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| The announcement came as the United Nations' top humanitarian official, John Holmes, was meeting Sri Lankan officials to call for access for aid workers to the war zone and government-run camps for thousands of displaced people. | The announcement came as the United Nations' top humanitarian official, John Holmes, was meeting Sri Lankan officials to call for access for aid workers to the war zone and government-run camps for thousands of displaced people. |
| Aid workers have been barred from the area since the fighting escalated last year. | Aid workers have been barred from the area since the fighting escalated last year. |
| The rebels say the government is deliberately blocking food aid there - a charge the Sri Lankan authorities have denied. | The rebels say the government is deliberately blocking food aid there - a charge the Sri Lankan authorities have denied. |
| Rebels on back foot | Rebels on back foot |
| In a statement, the rebels said they were responding to "calls made by the UN, EU, the governments of India and others". | In a statement, the rebels said they were responding to "calls made by the UN, EU, the governments of India and others". |
| They said the unilateral ceasefire would come into immediate effect. | They said the unilateral ceasefire would come into immediate effect. |
| Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa however told the BBC the ceasefire was "a joke" that was coming from "the losing side." | Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa however told the BBC the ceasefire was "a joke" that was coming from "the losing side." |
| He said the rebels should release all civilians within the conflict zone immediately. | He said the rebels should release all civilians within the conflict zone immediately. |
| 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. |
| He says 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 says 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. |
| The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority since 1983. | |
| More than 70,000 people have been killed in the war, but that figure could now be far higher because of intensified fighting in recent weeks. | |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Are you in Sri Lanka? What is your reaction to events? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Sri Lanka? What is your reaction to events? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |