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Tigers 'abduct' 24 schoolchildren Tamil Tigers kidnap 21 children
(about 2 hours later)
Tamil Tiger rebels have kidnapped 24 schoolchildren in eastern Sri Lanka, a military spokesman has announced. Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have admitted kidnapping at least 21 students in the east of the country.
Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC the children, mostly teenage girls, were taken in the eastern Ampara area. A rebel spokesman told the BBC that junior Tiger fighters had made a "serious mistake" in taking the children from their school.
Parents of the children have left for rebel-held territory to persuade the rebels to free the children, he said. Correspondents say that in the past the Tigers have always denied abducting children to use as soldiers.
A pro-rebel website quoting police sources said that 21 students had been kidnapped from class along with their tutor by a group of armed men. This year has seen a sharp increase in violence in Sri Lanka, with at least 3,400 people estimated dead.
The Tamilnet website said that the Tiger's military spokesman, Irasiah Ilanthirayan, was "awaiting clarification" over the incident from their district command in Ampara. LTTE military spokesman Rasaiah Ilanthirayan told the BBC Sinhala service that the junior Tigers who abducted the children had been expelled from the movement.
"If any of our members are involved in outlawed activities, the punishment would be severe," it quoted Mr Ilanthirayan as saying. He said that the children were being handed back to their parents.
'Forced conscription''Forced conscription'
Brig Samarasinghe said 21 girls and three boys, all teenagers, were preparing for a school examination when they were picked up by the rebels on Monday evening. Earlier, army spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC News website that the children, mostly teenage girls, were abducted in the eastern Ampara area.
Tigers 'recruit children' Army 'seizes youths to fight'Tigers 'recruit children' Army 'seizes youths to fight'
Brig Samarasinghe said 21 girls and three boys, all teenagers, were preparing for a school examination when they were picked up by the rebels on Monday evening.
"The incident was reported to the local police. The police have informed the peace monitors and the human rights commission," he said."The incident was reported to the local police. The police have informed the peace monitors and the human rights commission," he said.
Brig Samarasinghe said the children could have been taken away for "forced conscription".Brig Samarasinghe said the children could have been taken away for "forced conscription".
The issue of child recruitment has been a major point of difference between government, human rights and international organisations and the rebels.The issue of child recruitment has been a major point of difference between government, human rights and international organisations and the rebels.
The Tigers have in the past denied recruiting child troops.The Tigers have in the past denied recruiting child troops.
But they have been accused repeatedly of doing so by human rights groups and the UN throughout Sri Lanka's years of conflict.But they have been accused repeatedly of doing so by human rights groups and the UN throughout Sri Lanka's years of conflict.
The leader of a breakaway faction of the Tigers now, Colonel Karuna, has also been accused of recruiting child soldiers.The leader of a breakaway faction of the Tigers now, Colonel Karuna, has also been accused of recruiting child soldiers.
Last month, the United Nations children's agency, Unicef, said that "elements in the Sri Lankan military" were helping Col Karuna to abduct children to fight the Tamil Tigers.Last month, the United Nations children's agency, Unicef, said that "elements in the Sri Lankan military" were helping Col Karuna to abduct children to fight the Tamil Tigers.
A senior UN official said there was "credible evidence" that troops had rounded up children to fight with the renegade rebel group.A senior UN official said there was "credible evidence" that troops had rounded up children to fight with the renegade rebel group.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country. The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country. s
At least 3,400 people have been killed in the conflict in the past year, the government says. More than 60,000 lives have been lost since the 1970s.