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Tigers 'killed' by Sri Lanka army Tigers 'killed' by Sri Lanka army
(about 1 hour later)
The Sri Lankan army says 70 Tamil Tiger (LTTE) rebels have been killed trying to escape from a tiny enclave in the north-east of the country.The Sri Lankan army says 70 Tamil Tiger (LTTE) rebels have been killed trying to escape from a tiny enclave in the north-east of the country.
On Saturday, the military said they had cut off the Tigers' access to the sea, and President Mahinda Rajapakse claimed victory in the 26-year civil conflict.On Saturday, the military said they had cut off the Tigers' access to the sea, and President Mahinda Rajapakse claimed victory in the 26-year civil conflict.
But senior officials told the BBC fighting rages on in the area where the LTTE leaders are said to be cornered.But senior officials told the BBC fighting rages on in the area where the LTTE leaders are said to be cornered.
More than 70,000 people have died in the bitter war for a Tamil homeland.More than 70,000 people have died in the bitter war for a Tamil homeland.
Sri Lanka's military spokesman, Brig Udaya Nanayakkara, said that the 70 rebels had been killed while trying to cross a lagoon in six boats. The last weeks of the war have been marked by a growing chorus of international concern over the fate of Tamil civilians caught up in the intense fighting. name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a map of the conflict region
Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said that the 70 rebels had been killed while trying to cross a lagoon in six boats.
He said a "process of identification" was now going on, but added that the Tigers' leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, was not believed to have been in the boats.He said a "process of identification" was now going on, but added that the Tigers' leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, was not believed to have been in the boats.
See a map of the conflict region
The last weeks of the war have been marked by a growing chorus of international concern over the fate of Tamil civilians caught up in the intense fighting.
Brig Nanayakkara said on Saturday that 25,000 civilians have made it out of the conflict zone in the past 72 hours, 11,800 of them on Saturday alone.
However, more remain inside the small area where the Tamil Tigers may be preparing for a fight to the death.
The UN and Western governments have called on Sri Lanka to exercise restraint in its pursuit of a military victory over the Tigers.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has become the latest leader to speak out on the issue, declaring on Saturday that there would be "consequences" if Sri Lanka did not work to ensure an orderly end to the conflict.
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The final decisive battle 'is reaching its conclusion'The final decisive battle 'is reaching its conclusion'
'Humanitarian operation' The UN and Western governments have called on Sri Lanka to exercise restraint in its pursuit of a military victory over the Tigers.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has become the latest leader to speak out on the issue, declaring on Saturday that there would be "consequences" if Sri Lanka did not work to ensure an orderly end to the conflict.
Speaking in Jordan on Saturday, President Rajapakse said: "My government, with the total commitment of our armed forces, has in an unprecedented humanitarian operation finally defeated the LTTE militarily.Speaking in Jordan on Saturday, President Rajapakse said: "My government, with the total commitment of our armed forces, has in an unprecedented humanitarian operation finally defeated the LTTE militarily.
"I will be going back to a country that has been totally freed from the barbaric acts of the LTTE," he added."I will be going back to a country that has been totally freed from the barbaric acts of the LTTE," he added.
We have restricted the LTTE to [a] one sq km-like area, so we will mop up and seize the rest of the LTTE cadres and the leadership Gotabhaya RajapakseSri Lanka defence secretaryWe have restricted the LTTE to [a] one sq km-like area, so we will mop up and seize the rest of the LTTE cadres and the leadership Gotabhaya RajapakseSri Lanka defence secretary
But the Tigers' leadership has said repeatedly that they will not surrender, and are thought to be keeping thousands of civilians as human shields.But the Tigers' leadership has said repeatedly that they will not surrender, and are thought to be keeping thousands of civilians as human shields.
There have also been reports that the Tigers are preparing a mass suicide in the face of a military defeat.There have also been reports that the Tigers are preparing a mass suicide in the face of a military defeat.
A UN spokesman, Gordon Weiss, told Associated Press the organisation still had "grave fears" for the safety of an estimated 30,000 to 80,000 people still inside the combat zone.
Earlier, Sri Lanka's defence secretary told the BBC that the army was closing in on the remaining fighters for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (the full name for the Tamil Tigers).Earlier, Sri Lanka's defence secretary told the BBC that the army was closing in on the remaining fighters for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (the full name for the Tamil Tigers).
"We have restricted the LTTE to one square kilometre-like area, so we will mop up and seize the rest of the LTTE cadres and the leadership," Gotabhaya Rajapakse said. "We have restricted the LTTE to one square kilometre-like area, so we will mop up and seize the rest of the LTTE cadres and the leadership," said Gotabhaya Rajapakse.
He said the army did not know exactly where to find rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran, but expressed confidence he would be tracked down.He said the army did not know exactly where to find rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran, but expressed confidence he would be tracked down.
"If he has not committed suicide then he should be there," Mr Rajapakse said."If he has not committed suicide then he should be there," Mr Rajapakse said.
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.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.
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