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| S Lanka attack on rebel 'capital' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Sri Lankan army says an offensive has begun to try to take Kilinochchi, the Tamil Tiger rebels' de facto capital in the north. | |
| Troops have been attacking the rebels' defences from three directions from Sunday morning. | Troops have been attacking the rebels' defences from three directions from Sunday morning. |
| Rebel sources say since Friday at least 78 government troops have been killed. | |
| The government forces are seeking to crush the Tigers and end their fight for a separate state for the ethnic Tamil minority. | The government forces are seeking to crush the Tigers and end their fight for a separate state for the ethnic Tamil minority. |
| Leader's speech | |
| Troops advancing from several directions have begun attacking bunker lines around Kilinochchi town, according to the spokesman for Sri Lanka's military, Brig Udaya Nanayakkara. | |
| He said the Tigers were putting up stiff resistance and both sides had suffered casualties. | He said the Tigers were putting up stiff resistance and both sides had suffered casualties. |
| Kilinochchi is a key target of the government's offensive to try to crush the rebels, and end their decades-long fight for a separate state for the ethnic Tamil minority. | Kilinochchi is a key target of the government's offensive to try to crush the rebels, and end their decades-long fight for a separate state for the ethnic Tamil minority. |
| The town has been the Tigers' de facto capital, with political offices, courts, a police headquarters and other administrative buildings. | The town has been the Tigers' de facto capital, with political offices, courts, a police headquarters and other administrative buildings. |
| Its capture would be a major symbolic victory for government forces - but would leave the rebels still in control of territory in the north-east of Sri Lanka around Mullaitivu. | Its capture would be a major symbolic victory for government forces - but would leave the rebels still in control of territory in the north-east of Sri Lanka around Mullaitivu. |
| On Thursday the Tigers' leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is due to deliver his only speech of the year as the rebels commemorate their dead. | On Thursday the Tigers' leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is due to deliver his only speech of the year as the rebels commemorate their dead. |
| With communication lines cut to the north, the Tigers have not commented on the military's claims directly. | With communication lines cut to the north, the Tigers have not commented on the military's claims directly. |
| But the website TamilNet, which reports from rebel areas, said since Friday at least 78 government soldiers had been killed in battles around Kilinochchi. | But the website TamilNet, which reports from rebel areas, said since Friday at least 78 government soldiers had been killed in battles around Kilinochchi. |
| It added that heavy rain was increasing the hardship for civilians. | It added that heavy rain was increasing the hardship for civilians. |
| Aid agencies have estimated as many as 230,000 people in rebel controlled areas have been displaced by the fighting. | Aid agencies have estimated as many as 230,000 people in rebel controlled areas have been displaced by the fighting. |
| The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for Tamils in the north and east since 1983 and about 70,000 people have been killed in the violence. | The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for Tamils in the north and east since 1983 and about 70,000 people have been killed in the violence. |