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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tamil rebels vow to strike back | Tamil rebels vow to strike back |
| (1 day later) | |
| The Tamil Tigers have vowed revenge after the man believed to be their number two was killed in a Sri Lankan air force raid. | The Tamil Tigers have vowed revenge after the man believed to be their number two was killed in a Sri Lankan air force raid. |
| The military said SP Thamilselvan was at a meeting with other leaders in a camp when it was targeted on Friday. | The military said SP Thamilselvan was at a meeting with other leaders in a camp when it was targeted on Friday. |
| There are fears the killing could lead to an escalation of the war with the rebels, who want a Tamil state. | There are fears the killing could lead to an escalation of the war with the rebels, who want a Tamil state. |
| The rebels' top leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, has made a rare public appearance to mourn his deputy. | The rebels' top leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, has made a rare public appearance to mourn his deputy. |
| He was seen mourning at the open coffin of SP Thamilselvan, as whose body lay under the Tigers' flag, bandages covering wounds on his forehead. | He was seen mourning at the open coffin of SP Thamilselvan, as whose body lay under the Tigers' flag, bandages covering wounds on his forehead. |
| In a rare statement, Velupillai Prabhakaran said the death was "an unparalleled loss. | In a rare statement, Velupillai Prabhakaran said the death was "an unparalleled loss. |
| "Our people are in profound shock and sorrow." | "Our people are in profound shock and sorrow." |
| The government, he said, "is sending war vultures that are dropping giant bombs, it has cruelly killed our peace dove". | The government, he said, "is sending war vultures that are dropping giant bombs, it has cruelly killed our peace dove". |
| SP Thamilselvan led the rebel delegation at the last round of peace talks with the Sri Lankan government in late 2006. | |
| 'Surprise' | 'Surprise' |
| The Tamil Tigers' spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthiriyan, told the BBC the group's response to the killing would be in deeds, not words. | The Tamil Tigers' spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthiriyan, told the BBC the group's response to the killing would be in deeds, not words. |
| If we want we can take them one by one, so they must change their hideouts Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa Have your say - what now? Thamilselvan obituary | |
| But the rebel spokesman refused to be drawn on the manner of the retaliation they would take. He said it had to be a surprise. | But the rebel spokesman refused to be drawn on the manner of the retaliation they would take. He said it had to be a surprise. |
| For its part, the government has described the killing as a major success. | For its part, the government has described the killing as a major success. |
| SP Thamilselvan was the head of the rebels' political wing and held an important position in their hierarchy. | SP Thamilselvan was the head of the rebels' political wing and held an important position in their hierarchy. |
| In areas they control, the Tigers have declared three days of mourning for SP Thamilselvan and the five others killed in the bombing raid. | In areas they control, the Tigers have declared three days of mourning for SP Thamilselvan and the five others killed in the bombing raid. |
| SP Thamilselvan's death follows that of another key rebel spokesman, Anton Balasingham, last year. | SP Thamilselvan's death follows that of another key rebel spokesman, Anton Balasingham, last year. |
| Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said: "If we want we can take them one by one, so they must change their hideouts." | Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said: "If we want we can take them one by one, so they must change their hideouts." |
| Thamilselvan was the public face of the rebels | Thamilselvan was the public face of the rebels |
| The rebels announced on Friday their police chief, P Nadesan, would replace Mr Thamilselvan. He will also remain in charge of police. | The rebels announced on Friday their police chief, P Nadesan, would replace Mr Thamilselvan. He will also remain in charge of police. |
| The pro-rebel TamilNet website said the air strike had been carried out in Kilinochchi, the rebels' northern stronghold. | The pro-rebel TamilNet website said the air strike had been carried out in Kilinochchi, the rebels' northern stronghold. |
| It followed a Tamil Tiger attack on an air force base at Anuradhapura last week which left 14 security forces personnel dead and destroyed eight aircraft. | It followed a Tamil Tiger attack on an air force base at Anuradhapura last week which left 14 security forces personnel dead and destroyed eight aircraft. |
| Observers say the two sides now seem to be gearing up for a major confrontation in the north of the country. | Observers say the two sides now seem to be gearing up for a major confrontation in the north of the country. |
| The rebels are fighting for autonomy for minority Tamils in the north and east, claiming discrimination by the majority Sinhalese population. | The rebels are fighting for autonomy for minority Tamils in the north and east, claiming discrimination by the majority Sinhalese population. |
| About 70,000 people have died in more than 20 years of war. | About 70,000 people have died in more than 20 years of war. |