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Sri Lanka rebel head 'surrounded' Sri Lanka rebel head 'surrounded'
(30 minutes later)
The leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels, Velupillai Prabhakaran, is alive and surrounded by government troops, the Sri Lankan military has said.The leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels, Velupillai Prabhakaran, is alive and surrounded by government troops, the Sri Lankan military has said.
Prabhakaran is guarded by about 200 rebels and encircled by Sri Lankan troops in a small patch of jungle, a military spokesman said on television.Prabhakaran is guarded by about 200 rebels and encircled by Sri Lankan troops in a small patch of jungle, a military spokesman said on television.
Sri Lankan forces have routed the rebels in the past few weeks, bringing a 26-year war to its conclusion.Sri Lankan forces have routed the rebels in the past few weeks, bringing a 26-year war to its conclusion.
Earlier, four senior rebel leaders were killed in fighting, the army said.Earlier, four senior rebel leaders were killed in fighting, the army said.
They are said to include the head of the Tigers' political wing, Balasingham Nadesan, the head of rebels' peace secretariat Seevaratnam Puleedevan, and a military leader known as Ramesh.They are said to include the head of the Tigers' political wing, Balasingham Nadesan, the head of rebels' peace secretariat Seevaratnam Puleedevan, and a military leader known as Ramesh.
See a map of the conflict region See a map of the conflict region
The army also says it has found the body of Prabhakaran's son, Charles Anthony.The army also says it has found the body of Prabhakaran's son, Charles Anthony.
One unconfirmed report, on AFP news agency, said Prabhakaran himself had also been killed. One unconfirmed report, on AFP and Reuters news agencies, said Prabhakaran himself had also been killed.
The agency, quoting an unnamed defence official, said the rebel chief and two close aides were ambushed and shot dead while trying to flee the area in an ambulance. The agencies, quoting an unnamed defence official, said the rebel chief and two close aides were ambushed and shot dead while trying to flee the area in an ambulance.
The latest claims cannot be verified as reporters are barred from the war zone.The latest claims cannot be verified as reporters are barred from the war zone.
'No escape''No escape'
Sri Lanka's army says the last Tamil Tiger (LTTE) fighters have been penned into a 1.5 square kilometre (0.6 sq mile) patch of jungle.Sri Lanka's army says the last Tamil Tiger (LTTE) fighters have been penned into a 1.5 square kilometre (0.6 sq mile) patch of jungle.
VELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN Born November, 19541972: Founded Tamil New Tigers (TNT), forerunner to LTTEWanted in Sri Lanka and India Profile: Velupillai PrabhakaranVELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN Born November, 19541972: Founded Tamil New Tigers (TNT), forerunner to LTTEWanted in Sri Lanka and India Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran
The military spokesman said he could not predict exactly what would happen next but added: "We won't allow him [Prabhakaran] to escape."The military spokesman said he could not predict exactly what would happen next but added: "We won't allow him [Prabhakaran] to escape."
The television also showed what it said were Tamil Tiger (LTTE) ammunition dumps and heavy weapons burning after the rebels set fire to them.The television also showed what it said were Tamil Tiger (LTTE) ammunition dumps and heavy weapons burning after the rebels set fire to them.
As the offensive continued, more than 1,000 Sri Lankans protested outside the British High Commission in the capital, Colombo.As the offensive continued, more than 1,000 Sri Lankans protested outside the British High Commission in the capital, Colombo.
The demonstrators, accusing Britain of siding with the Tigers, threw stones and burnt an effigy of UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband.The demonstrators, accusing Britain of siding with the Tigers, threw stones and burnt an effigy of UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
A High Commission spokesman said it was "an outrage" that the Sri Lankan authorities let the demonstration become so violent.A High Commission spokesman said it was "an outrage" that the Sri Lankan authorities let the demonstration become so violent.
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