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Sri Lanka army 'to stop shelling' Sri Lanka army 'to stop shelling'
(18 minutes later)
Sri Lankan troops will no longer use heavy weapons or air strikes in fighting against Tamil Tiger rebels in the north-east, the government says.Sri Lankan troops will no longer use heavy weapons or air strikes in fighting against Tamil Tiger rebels in the north-east, the government says.
The statement said the army would focus on trying to rescue civilians. Concern has been rising over civilian deaths.The statement said the army would focus on trying to rescue civilians. Concern has been rising over civilian deaths.
The rebels are boxed in to a shrinking patch of land which they share with thousands of civilians.The rebels are boxed in to a shrinking patch of land which they share with thousands of civilians.
On Sunday the government dismissed a Tamil Tiger ceasefire offer as a "joke" and said the rebels were near defeat.On Sunday the government dismissed a Tamil Tiger ceasefire offer as a "joke" and said the rebels were near defeat.
Pre-dawn attackPre-dawn attack
The statement from the office of the president said combat operations in the civil war between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels had "reached their conclusion".The statement from the office of the president said combat operations in the civil war between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels had "reached their conclusion".
See a map of the region See a map of the region
"Our security forces have been instructed to end the use of heavy calibre guns, combat aircraft and aerial weapons which could cause civilian casualties," the statement said."Our security forces have been instructed to end the use of heavy calibre guns, combat aircraft and aerial weapons which could cause civilian casualties," the statement said.
"Our security forces will confine their attempts to rescuing civilians who are held hostage and give foremost priority to saving civilians.""Our security forces will confine their attempts to rescuing civilians who are held hostage and give foremost priority to saving civilians."
However, the pro-rebel TamilNet web site reports that air strikes have continued since the announcement. However, the Tigers' political head, B Nadesan, told the BBC Sinhala service that government artillery and jet bomber attacks were continuing to target civilians.
It quoted the head of the Tigers Peace Secretariat, Seevaratnam Puleethevan, as saying that bombers had targeted civilians in Mullivaaykkaal. He repeated a call for international powers to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to observe a ceasefire.
No confirmation of the reports is possible as independent journalists are not allowed into the war zone.
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A government-run television station has broadcast images said to show the army helping civiliansA government-run television station has broadcast images said to show the army helping civilians
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says until now the military and the government have said that they were not using any heavy weapons in this current stage of the fighting and had caused no civilian casualties.The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says until now the military and the government have said that they were not using any heavy weapons in this current stage of the fighting and had caused no civilian casualties.
This new statement, however, does appear to acknowledge that civilians have been harmed as aid agencies and the UN have been saying, our correspondent says.This new statement, however, does appear to acknowledge that civilians have been harmed as aid agencies and the UN have been saying, our correspondent says.
He says the declaration may signal a radical change of tactics by government forces in the small war zone to try to avoid such casualties.He says the declaration may signal a radical change of tactics by government forces in the small war zone to try to avoid such casualties.
It may also mean that they feel their final military victory has been achieved, or nearly achieved.It may also mean that they feel their final military victory has been achieved, or nearly achieved.
Earlier on Monday, Sri Lankan troops launched a pre-dawn attack on Tamil Tiger-held areas in the north-east, a pro-rebel website reported.Earlier on Monday, Sri Lankan troops launched a pre-dawn attack on Tamil Tiger-held areas in the north-east, a pro-rebel website reported.
Troops were firing from all sides and more than 10,000 civilians were at immediate risk, TamilNet said.Troops were firing from all sides and more than 10,000 civilians were at immediate risk, TamilNet said.
A military spokesman confirmed that troops were firing, but said they were doing so in self-defence.A military spokesman confirmed that troops were firing, but said they were doing so in self-defence.
No confirmation of the reports is possible as independent journalists are not allowed into the war zone.
TrappedTrapped
On Monday the Chief Minister of India's Tamil Nadu state, M Karunanidhi, 85, went on indefinite hunger strike to demand a ceasefire in Sri Lanka. He called it off after the latest news from Sri Lanka.On Monday the Chief Minister of India's Tamil Nadu state, M Karunanidhi, 85, went on indefinite hunger strike to demand a ceasefire in Sri Lanka. He called it off after the latest news from Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community has close cultural, religious and business ties with more than 50m Tamils in Tamil Nadu.Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community has close cultural, religious and business ties with more than 50m Tamils in Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, the UN's top humanitarian official, John Holmes, who is in Sri Lanka, wants more access to civilians affected by the fighting. Meanwhile, the UN's top humanitarian official, John Holmes, has been in Sri Lanka for a number of days.
On Monday he said he thought there was little prospect of a ceasefire soon but that there should be more access to civilians affected by the fighting.
The UN says some 50,000 civilians remain trapped in a government-designated no-fire zone, but the army puts the number at 15,000.The UN says some 50,000 civilians remain trapped in a government-designated no-fire zone, but the army puts the number at 15,000.
The rebels have been beaten back to a 12 sq km (5 sq m) area.The rebels have been beaten back to a 12 sq km (5 sq m) area.
The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority since 1983.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.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.
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