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| Thousands flee Sri Lanka fighting | Thousands flee Sri Lanka fighting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of civilians have fled their homes in eastern Sri Lanka because of heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels. | Thousands of civilians have fled their homes in eastern Sri Lanka because of heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels. |
| A BBC correspondent in Batticaloa says that 3,000 mostly Tamil civilians arrived in the town on Thursday. | A BBC correspondent in Batticaloa says that 3,000 mostly Tamil civilians arrived in the town on Thursday. |
| Most came from the Paduvankarai area east of Batticaloa town, and said they were escaping heavy artillery fire. | Most came from the Paduvankarai area east of Batticaloa town, and said they were escaping heavy artillery fire. |
| The civilians said they believed troops were massing for a major offensive. The government denies the reports. | |
| Correspondents say that troops backed by artillery and multi-barrel rocket fire are advancing towards Thoppigala, a key Tamil Tiger base in the east. | |
| Military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC Sinhala's service no operation was taking place around Thoppigala. | |
| He confirmed that more than 13,000 people had reached government-controlled territory but said they were fleeing because they feared the rebels would used them as "human shields". | |
| 'Bloodbath' | 'Bloodbath' |
| Most of the troops are reported to have been deployed from Batticaloa district, backed by security forces in adjoining Ampara district. | Most of the troops are reported to have been deployed from Batticaloa district, backed by security forces in adjoining Ampara district. |
| "We have not had any reports of casualties," an officer in Ampara told the AFP news agency earlier. | |
| "About 10,000 families in neighbouring areas have fled and sought shelter in government-held areas." | "About 10,000 families in neighbouring areas have fled and sought shelter in government-held areas." |
| The head of the Tiger's political wing, SP Thamilselvan, told the pro-rebel website Tamilnet that the army had amassed military hardware in preparation for a major offensive towards the Mullaitivu area. | The head of the Tiger's political wing, SP Thamilselvan, told the pro-rebel website Tamilnet that the army had amassed military hardware in preparation for a major offensive towards the Mullaitivu area. |
| "The consequence of this will be a catastrophic bloodbath across Sri Lanka," he said. | "The consequence of this will be a catastrophic bloodbath across Sri Lanka," he said. |
| A BBC correspondent in the town of Batticaloa says that 5,000 civilians have arrived in the town over the last few days to escape the fighting. | A BBC correspondent in the town of Batticaloa says that 5,000 civilians have arrived in the town over the last few days to escape the fighting. |
| In January, troops captured the eastern town of Vakarai from the Tamil Tigers after weeks of heavy fighting. | In January, troops captured the eastern town of Vakarai from the Tamil Tigers after weeks of heavy fighting. |
| The government says that it wants to rid the eastern province of the rebels. | The government says that it wants to rid the eastern province of the rebels. |
| Thoppigala is believed to be one of their last bastions in Batticaloa and Ampara districts. | Thoppigala is believed to be one of their last bastions in Batticaloa and Ampara districts. |