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Army 'consolidates' Sampur gains Army 'consolidates' Sampur gains
(1 day later)
The Sri Lankan army says it is consolidating positions in the recently captured north-eastern town of Sampur.The Sri Lankan army says it is consolidating positions in the recently captured north-eastern town of Sampur.
The military say they are clearing mines and searching for booby traps.The military say they are clearing mines and searching for booby traps.
Officials say that sporadic artillery fire from the rebels killed one soldier and wounded four others in the eastern Trincomalee area on Tuesday.Officials say that sporadic artillery fire from the rebels killed one soldier and wounded four others in the eastern Trincomalee area on Tuesday.
The rebels have denied army claims that they have in effect lost control of the southern edge of the strategically important Trincomalee harbour. The rebels have told the BBC the town of Sampur is no longer in their hands but say their fighters are still resisting troops in the area.
Major captureMajor capture
"We are conducting search and clear operations in Sampur, clearing landmines from the area," said a military spokesman. A military spokesman said troops were conducting search operations and clearing landmines in Sampur on the southern of the strategically important Trincomalee harbour.
"The Tigers have withdrawn from the Sampur area. They have not fired any weapons overnight," a military spokesman told the Reuters news agency."The Tigers have withdrawn from the Sampur area. They have not fired any weapons overnight," a military spokesman told the Reuters news agency.
The army said it captured Sampur on Monday after days of artillery battles, and that fighting has now died down.The army said it captured Sampur on Monday after days of artillery battles, and that fighting has now died down.
Correspondents say it was the first major capture of enemy territory by either side since a 2002 ceasefire.Correspondents say it was the first major capture of enemy territory by either side since a 2002 ceasefire.
Military sources say the capture of Sampur and its surrounding area mean that the Tigers will be unable to shell Trincomalee's naval base and disrupt a maritime supply route to the besieged army-held Jaffna peninsula to the north.Military sources say the capture of Sampur and its surrounding area mean that the Tigers will be unable to shell Trincomalee's naval base and disrupt a maritime supply route to the besieged army-held Jaffna peninsula to the north.
The rebels insist they have not relinquished control of Sampur and that fighting is continuing. The rebels insist that fighting is continuing.
"The battle is going on," rebel spokesman S Elilan told the Associated Press news agency."The battle is going on," rebel spokesman S Elilan told the Associated Press news agency.
"The army has come to the area and we are also there," he said."The army has come to the area and we are also there," he said.
The latest fighting in Sri Lanka's 20 year civil war began with air strikes on rebel territory in late July amid a dispute over a blocked water supply.The latest fighting in Sri Lanka's 20 year civil war began with air strikes on rebel territory in late July amid a dispute over a blocked water supply.
Ceasefire 'collapse'Ceasefire 'collapse'
The military said that 15 troops were killed and more than 90 were injured during the Sampur offensive. It estimates dozens of Tigers were killed.The military said that 15 troops were killed and more than 90 were injured during the Sampur offensive. It estimates dozens of Tigers were killed.
In the latest fighting on Tuesday, the military said that one soldier was killed and four wounded in a rebel mortar attack in a village near Sampur.In the latest fighting on Tuesday, the military said that one soldier was killed and four wounded in a rebel mortar attack in a village near Sampur.
Despite the violence, both the government and the rebels continue to stand by the terms of a 2002 truce, which still technically holds.Despite the violence, both the government and the rebels continue to stand by the terms of a 2002 truce, which still technically holds.
"Let's hope the military how now ended their offensive, because it could completely collapse the ceasefire agreement," Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) spokesman Thorfinnur Omarsson told Reuters."Let's hope the military how now ended their offensive, because it could completely collapse the ceasefire agreement," Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) spokesman Thorfinnur Omarsson told Reuters.
"The Tigers are asking us if the truce is over. We certainly hope it is not.""The Tigers are asking us if the truce is over. We certainly hope it is not."
Troops began the advance more than a week agoTroops began the advance more than a week ago
Each side blames the other for trying to force a full-scale return to civil war that has killed more than 65,000 people since 1983.Each side blames the other for trying to force a full-scale return to civil war that has killed more than 65,000 people since 1983.
Hundreds of civilians, troops and rebels have been killed over the past month, and the UN says that more than 200,000 people have been displaced and are now living in refugee camps across the island's rural northeast.Hundreds of civilians, troops and rebels have been killed over the past month, and the UN says that more than 200,000 people have been displaced and are now living in refugee camps across the island's rural northeast.
The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says the fall of Sampur is a strategic victory for the government, but adds that analysts believe the Tigers may retaliate elsewhere.The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says the fall of Sampur is a strategic victory for the government, but adds that analysts believe the Tigers may retaliate elsewhere.
President Mahinda Rajapakse formally announced the capture of the strategically-important town at a rally of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party.President Mahinda Rajapakse formally announced the capture of the strategically-important town at a rally of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
"Our troops have captured Sampur," he said to loud applause. "This is not war, we are only responding to an attack on us.""Our troops have captured Sampur," he said to loud applause. "This is not war, we are only responding to an attack on us."