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| Sri Lanka leader hails 'victory' | Sri Lanka leader hails 'victory' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Sri Lankan leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared the country "liberated" from Tamil Tiger rebels after a 26-year war. | Sri Lankan leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared the country "liberated" from Tamil Tiger rebels after a 26-year war. |
| Mr Rajapaksa made the announcement in a speech to the country's parliament, a day after the army said rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had been killed. | Mr Rajapaksa made the announcement in a speech to the country's parliament, a day after the army said rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had been killed. |
| Sri Lanka's army chief said Prabhakaran's body has been found. The military said he was shot whilst trying to escape from the war zone. | |
| Tamil media outside Sri Lanka have denied the Tiger chief's death. | Tamil media outside Sri Lanka have denied the Tiger chief's death. |
| VELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN Born November, 19541972: Founded Tamil New Tigers (TNT), forerunner of LTTEReputation as fearless and ruthless leaderPioneered use of suicide bombings in guerilla warfareWanted in Sri Lanka and India Obituary: Velupillai Prabhakaran Winning the peace Joy and wariness in Sri Lanka | VELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN Born November, 19541972: Founded Tamil New Tigers (TNT), forerunner of LTTEReputation as fearless and ruthless leaderPioneered use of suicide bombings in guerilla warfareWanted in Sri Lanka and India Obituary: Velupillai Prabhakaran Winning the peace Joy and wariness in Sri Lanka |
| In a nationally televised live address, President Rajapaksa hailed "a day which is very, very significant - not only to us Sri Lankans but to the entire world". | In a nationally televised live address, President Rajapaksa hailed "a day which is very, very significant - not only to us Sri Lankans but to the entire world". |
| "Today we have been able to liberate the entire country from the clutches of terrorism," he said. "We have been able to defeat one of the most heinous terrorist groups in the world." | "Today we have been able to liberate the entire country from the clutches of terrorism," he said. "We have been able to defeat one of the most heinous terrorist groups in the world." |
| As he walked into parliament, schoolgirls sang an ancient song of praise, while lawmakers held up the national flag. | As he walked into parliament, schoolgirls sang an ancient song of praise, while lawmakers held up the national flag. |
| After speaking in his native Sinhala, President Rajapaksa switched to the language of the Tamil minority, saying ethnic and religious divisions should end. | After speaking in his native Sinhala, President Rajapaksa switched to the language of the Tamil minority, saying ethnic and religious divisions should end. |
| "We must find a homegrown solution to this conflict. That solution should be acceptable to all the communities." | "We must find a homegrown solution to this conflict. That solution should be acceptable to all the communities." |
| Denial | Denial |
| The army said it killed Prabhakaran on Monday after over-running the last patch of territory held by the Tamil Tiger rebels (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE). | The army said it killed Prabhakaran on Monday after over-running the last patch of territory held by the Tamil Tiger rebels (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE). |
| It said Prabhakaran, who founded and had led the LTTE since the mid-1970s, was shot dead with two senior deputies as they tried to escape. | It said Prabhakaran, who founded and had led the LTTE since the mid-1970s, was shot dead with two senior deputies as they tried to escape. |
| There were scenes of jubilation across the country as reports of Prabhakaran's death spread. | There were scenes of jubilation across the country as reports of Prabhakaran's death spread. |
| Drivers and motorcyclists sounded their horns, while others waved flags and set off firecrackers. | Drivers and motorcyclists sounded their horns, while others waved flags and set off firecrackers. |
| SRI LANKA CONFLICT TIMELINE 1976 - LTTE formed1983 - First attacks by Tamil Tiger rebels; start of 'First Eelam War'Feb 2002 - Government and rebels sign ceasefire2004 - 2008 - Violence mountsJan 2008 - Government pulls out of ceasefire agreementJan 2009 - Government captures Tigers' Kilinochchi headquartersMay 2009 - Government declares victory against Tigers In pictures: Sri Lanka victorious Sri Lanka press hails victory | SRI LANKA CONFLICT TIMELINE 1976 - LTTE formed1983 - First attacks by Tamil Tiger rebels; start of 'First Eelam War'Feb 2002 - Government and rebels sign ceasefire2004 - 2008 - Violence mountsJan 2008 - Government pulls out of ceasefire agreementJan 2009 - Government captures Tigers' Kilinochchi headquartersMay 2009 - Government declares victory against Tigers In pictures: Sri Lanka victorious Sri Lanka press hails victory |
| "We are happy today to see the end of that ruthless terrorist organisation and its heartless leader. We can live in peace after this," said Sinhalese businessman Lal Hettige. | "We are happy today to see the end of that ruthless terrorist organisation and its heartless leader. We can live in peace after this," said Sinhalese businessman Lal Hettige. |
| However, the pro-Tamil website TamiNet quoted LTTE diplomatic head Selvarajah Pathmanathan as saying Prabhakaran was still alive. | However, the pro-Tamil website TamiNet quoted LTTE diplomatic head Selvarajah Pathmanathan as saying Prabhakaran was still alive. |
| "I wish to inform the global Tamil community distressed witnessing the final events of the war that our beloved leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran is alive and safe," he said. | "I wish to inform the global Tamil community distressed witnessing the final events of the war that our beloved leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran is alive and safe," he said. |
| The claims have not been independently verified because reporters are not allowed into the former conflict zone. | The claims have not been independently verified because reporters are not allowed into the former conflict zone. |
| The Tigers had been fighting for a separate state for Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka since the 1970s. | The Tigers had been fighting for a separate state for Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka since the 1970s. |
| More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict and thousands displaced. | More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict and thousands displaced. |
| European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels condemned civilian casualties and called for an inquiry into alleged war crimes by both sides. | European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels condemned civilian casualties and called for an inquiry into alleged war crimes by both sides. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's office said he was planning to visit Sri Lanka, but did not provide details. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's office said he was planning to visit Sri Lanka, but did not provide details. |
| Meanwhile, UN humanitarian aid chief John Holmes said the priority was to evacuate all the civilians caught up in the fighting. | Meanwhile, UN humanitarian aid chief John Holmes said the priority was to evacuate all the civilians caught up in the fighting. |
| Sources in the UN said significant numbers of civilians were still in the combat zone in the final days of fighting but the Sri Lankan government said all civilians had left. | Sources in the UN said significant numbers of civilians were still in the combat zone in the final days of fighting but the Sri Lankan government said all civilians had left. |