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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka army 'controls coast' | Sri Lanka army 'controls coast' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The army in Sri Lanka has said it has captured the last section of coastline held by Tamil Tiger rebels in the north-east of the country. | The army in Sri Lanka has said it has captured the last section of coastline held by Tamil Tiger rebels in the north-east of the country. |
| The rebels are cornered by troops in a tiny enclave in a final confrontation that has trapped many civilians. | The rebels are cornered by troops in a tiny enclave in a final confrontation that has trapped many civilians. |
| For the first time ever the rebels do not have sea access, and the army is "progressing" to clear remaining rebel-held land, Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said. | |
| More than 70,000 people have died in the 26-year war for a Tamil homeland. | More than 70,000 people have died in the 26-year war for a Tamil homeland. |
| See a map of the conflict region | See a map of the conflict region |
| Fighting on the shoreline itself was not very heavy compared with elsewhere, the brigadier told the BBC. | Fighting on the shoreline itself was not very heavy compared with elsewhere, the brigadier told the BBC. |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says there is speculation that the rebels would launch suicide attacks against the army. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says there is speculation that the rebels would launch suicide attacks against the army. |
| Trapped civilians | Trapped civilians |
| The Sri Lankan military said 10,000 civilians escaped the war zone on Friday, but our correspondent says there is huge concern for the fate of the many thousands still trapped. | The Sri Lankan military said 10,000 civilians escaped the war zone on Friday, but our correspondent says there is huge concern for the fate of the many thousands still trapped. |
| The UN Security Council has expressed "grave concern" at the "worsening humanitarian crisis" in the region. | The UN Security Council has expressed "grave concern" at the "worsening humanitarian crisis" in the region. |
| Over the last week, US President Barack Obama has urged the army to stop shelling of civilian areas and called on the rebels to lay down their arms. | Over the last week, US President Barack Obama has urged the army to stop shelling of civilian areas and called on the rebels to lay down their arms. |
| But the government in Colombo has consistently rejected calling a halt to the offensive saying it would give the rebels time to recover. | But the government in Colombo has consistently rejected calling a halt to the offensive saying it would give the rebels time to recover. |
| Many thousands of civilians remain unable to escape the war zone | Many thousands of civilians remain unable to escape the war zone |
| Meanwhile the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, is due to arrive in Colombo later for a second attempt to press for a negotiated end to the war. | Meanwhile the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, is due to arrive in Colombo later for a second attempt to press for a negotiated end to the war. |
| More than 200,000 civilians who escaped the war zone over the last few months are living in government-controlled camps. | More than 200,000 civilians who escaped the war zone over the last few months are living in government-controlled camps. |
| Aid charities say a growing number of traumatised, malnourished children were becoming separated from their families as they fled the war zone and entered the camps. | Aid charities say a growing number of traumatised, malnourished children were becoming separated from their families as they fled the war zone and entered the camps. |
| Carnage | |
| The founder of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organisation, Vellupillai Prabhakaran began the fight for a separate state for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils in the early 1970s, progressing into a violent civil war in 1983. | The founder of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organisation, Vellupillai Prabhakaran began the fight for a separate state for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils in the early 1970s, progressing into a violent civil war in 1983. |
| The Sri Lanka military intelligence believe Prabhakaran and other senior leaders are in the remaining rebel-held territory, Reuters news agency reported Brig Nanayakkara said. | The Sri Lanka military intelligence believe Prabhakaran and other senior leaders are in the remaining rebel-held territory, Reuters news agency reported Brig Nanayakkara said. |
| The Tamil Tigers have posted a response to the Sri Lankan army's military breakthrough on the internet. | |
| A conventional victory would only mean a new phase of conflict, galvanised by the deaths of Tamils, a pro-rebel website quoted a senior Tamil Tigers leader as saying. | |
| "Colombo's approach to finish the war in 48 hours through a carnage and bloodbath of civilians will never resolve a conflict of decades," S Pathmanathan was quoted as saying. | |
| "On the contrary it will only escalate the crisis to unforeseen heights." | |
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