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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Soldier killed in Sri Lanka blast | Soldier killed in Sri Lanka blast |
| (4 days later) | |
| One soldier has been killed and three others injured in a bomb explosion in Vavuniya in northern Sri Lanka. | One soldier has been killed and three others injured in a bomb explosion in Vavuniya in northern Sri Lanka. |
| A military spokesman said Tamil Tiger rebels detonated a landmine as a truck carrying troops was passing by. | A military spokesman said Tamil Tiger rebels detonated a landmine as a truck carrying troops was passing by. |
| Rebels and government troops resumed fighting after the collapse of peace talks in Switzerland at the weekend. | Rebels and government troops resumed fighting after the collapse of peace talks in Switzerland at the weekend. |
| Talks failed over the issue of the main highway connecting Jaffna with the rest of the country and both sides accuse each other of restarting the fighting. | Talks failed over the issue of the main highway connecting Jaffna with the rest of the country and both sides accuse each other of restarting the fighting. |
| "A group of soldiers was heading on leave in Vavuniya. The LTTE detonated a Claymore mine," news agency Reuters quoted a military spokesman as saying of the bomb attack. | "A group of soldiers was heading on leave in Vavuniya. The LTTE detonated a Claymore mine," news agency Reuters quoted a military spokesman as saying of the bomb attack. |
| People cut off | People cut off |
| On Monday, Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger rebels exchanged heavy artillery fire in the northern Jaffna peninsula. | On Monday, Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger rebels exchanged heavy artillery fire in the northern Jaffna peninsula. |
| 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. |
| The fighting began after government and rebel negotiators failed to break the deadlock at their talks. | The fighting began after government and rebel negotiators failed to break the deadlock at their talks. |
| The rebels have said they will not agree to a date for more negotiations until the crucial A9 highway is re-opened. | The rebels have said they will not agree to a date for more negotiations until the crucial A9 highway is re-opened. |
| 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. |
| International pressure | International pressure |
| The 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. | The 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. |