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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka clash after talks fail | Sri Lanka clash after talks fail |
| (4 days later) | |
| Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger rebels have exchanged heavy artillery fire in northern Jaffna peninsula, just a day after peace talks failed. | Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger rebels have exchanged heavy artillery fire in northern Jaffna peninsula, just a day after peace talks failed. |
| Residents in Jaffna described hearing explosions and said the shelling was heavier than usual. | Residents in Jaffna described hearing explosions and said the shelling was heavier than usual. |
| Both sides accused each other of starting the fighting. It is not clear if there have been casualties. | Both sides accused each other of starting the fighting. It is not clear if there have been casualties. |
| Government and rebel negotiators met over the weekend in Geneva, but failed to break the deadlock. | Government and rebel negotiators met over the weekend in Geneva, but failed to break the deadlock. |
| Road dispute | Road dispute |
| Talks broke down over the issue of the main A9 highway connecting Jaffna with the rest of the country. | Talks broke down over the issue of the main A9 highway connecting Jaffna with the rest of the country. |
| The rebels are accused of using the truce to regroup | The rebels are accused of using the truce to regroup |
| The rebels have said they will not agree a date for more negotiations until the road is reopened. | The rebels have said they will not agree a date for more negotiations until the road is reopened. |
| It has been closed since fighting began in the north in early August, leaving around half a million people cut off. | It has been closed since fighting began in the north in early August, leaving around half a million people cut off. |
| Provisions are getting through but not nearly enough, and there is concern of an impending humanitarian crisis. | Provisions are getting through but not nearly enough, and there is concern of an impending humanitarian crisis. |
| The government has rejected the rebel demands, saying the Tigers want access to the area simply to levy taxes. | The government has rejected the rebel demands, saying the Tigers want access to the area simply to levy taxes. |
| It has said it will ferry in emergency supplies by sea. The rebels have refused to give security guarantees. | It has said it will ferry in emergency supplies by sea. The rebels have refused to give security guarantees. |
| Pressure | Pressure |
| Violence has claimed more than 3,000 lives since the end of last year, the government says, although the rebels dispute the number of their fighters killed. | Violence has claimed more than 3,000 lives since the end of last year, the government says, although the rebels dispute the number of their fighters killed. |
| Despite the bloodshed, both sides maintain that they are committed to a 2002 ceasefire which now exists only in name. | Despite the bloodshed, both sides maintain that they are committed to a 2002 ceasefire which now exists only in name. |
| Most observers believe they were brought to talks only as a result of international pressure. | Most observers believe they were brought to talks only as a result of international pressure. |
| The acrimonious atmosphere in Geneva and continuing fighting in Sri Lanka reflect this lack of sincerity, they say. | The acrimonious atmosphere in Geneva and continuing fighting in Sri Lanka reflect this lack of sincerity, they say. |
| About 65,000 people were killed in fighting before the 2002 truce was agreed. | About 65,000 people were killed in fighting before the 2002 truce was agreed. |
| The rebels want a homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. They say Tamils have been discriminated against by the island's majority Sinhalese community. | The rebels want a homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. They say Tamils have been discriminated against by the island's majority Sinhalese community. |