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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| S Lanka army to 'free' civilians | S Lanka army to 'free' civilians |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Sri Lankan military has said it will move to "liberate" thousands of civilians in Tamil Tiger rebel areas. | The Sri Lankan military has said it will move to "liberate" thousands of civilians in Tamil Tiger rebel areas. |
| The announcement came after the expiry of a 48-hour government truce for civilians to leave the combat zone. | The announcement came after the expiry of a 48-hour government truce for civilians to leave the combat zone. |
| International concern has grown over the safety of civilians trapped behind the lines during recent heavy fighting. | International concern has grown over the safety of civilians trapped behind the lines during recent heavy fighting. |
| Meanwhile, the government has warned it will expel diplomats, aid agencies and journalists it deems biased in favour of the Tamil Tigers. | Meanwhile, the government has warned it will expel diplomats, aid agencies and journalists it deems biased in favour of the Tamil Tigers. |
| An army offensive has pushed the rebels into a 300-sq-km (110-sq-mile) corner of jungle in the north-east of the island, which aid agencies say also holds 250,000 civilians. | An army offensive has pushed the rebels into a 300-sq-km (110-sq-mile) corner of jungle in the north-east of the island, which aid agencies say also holds 250,000 civilians. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| The agencies say the people are facing a desperate situation, with hundreds killed in combat in recent days and food supplies running low. | The agencies say the people are facing a desperate situation, with hundreds killed in combat in recent days and food supplies running low. |
| The government says the number of civilians is closer to 120,000 and that the army has a policy of not firing at civilians. | The government says the number of civilians is closer to 120,000 and that the army has a policy of not firing at civilians. |
| The Sri Lankan government accuses the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of not allowing civilians to leave, saying they are being used as human shields. | The Sri Lankan government accuses the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of not allowing civilians to leave, saying they are being used as human shields. |
| The rebels say the civilians prefer to stay where they are under Tamil Tiger "protection". | The rebels say the civilians prefer to stay where they are under Tamil Tiger "protection". |
| The reports can not be independently confirmed as neither side allows journalists near the war zone. | The reports can not be independently confirmed as neither side allows journalists near the war zone. |
| 'Utmost care' | 'Utmost care' |
| Officials said about 300 civilians had crossed into government-held territory during the 48-hour truce, which expired late Saturday. | Officials said about 300 civilians had crossed into government-held territory during the 48-hour truce, which expired late Saturday. |
| "We will now have to save the civilians and move in," the spokesman, Kaheliya Rambukwella, said. | "We will now have to save the civilians and move in," the spokesman, Kaheliya Rambukwella, said. |
| INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19902002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Fears over Sri Lanka war childrenVoices from Sri LankaTami rebels without the wherewithal | INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19902002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Fears over Sri Lanka war childrenVoices from Sri LankaTami rebels without the wherewithal |
| "It is now very evident that [Tamil Tiger leader Valupillai] Prabhakaran is... using civilians as cover," Mr Rambukwella said. | "It is now very evident that [Tamil Tiger leader Valupillai] Prabhakaran is... using civilians as cover," Mr Rambukwella said. |
| "We will take the utmost care of civilians when we move in." | "We will take the utmost care of civilians when we move in." |
| The military has captured the key towns of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and the strategically important Elephant Pass to the Jaffna peninsula in recent weeks. | The military has captured the key towns of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and the strategically important Elephant Pass to the Jaffna peninsula in recent weeks. |
| The BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan has been in the city of Jaffna on one of the first government-approved media trips to the city - the cultural capital of Sri Lanka's Tamil community - in months. | The BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan has been in the city of Jaffna on one of the first government-approved media trips to the city - the cultural capital of Sri Lanka's Tamil community - in months. |
| He said thousands of people had attended a rally held by a pro-government Tamil party calling for the rebels to allow civilians to leave the war zone. | He said thousands of people had attended a rally held by a pro-government Tamil party calling for the rebels to allow civilians to leave the war zone. |
| Meanwhile a senior government official warned that diplomats, aid agencies and media, including the BBC, will be expelled from Sri Lanka if they seem to favour the Tamil Tiger rebels. | |
| Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said bias among some foreigners was damaging security forces as they dealt the "final blow" to the rebels. | Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said bias among some foreigners was damaging security forces as they dealt the "final blow" to the rebels. |
| In an interview with the Sunday Island newspaper, Mr Rajapaksa accused the ambassadors of Switzerland and Germany, and news organisations the BBC, CNN and Al-Jazeera of being biased. | In an interview with the Sunday Island newspaper, Mr Rajapaksa accused the ambassadors of Switzerland and Germany, and news organisations the BBC, CNN and Al-Jazeera of being biased. |
| "They will be chased away [if they try] to give a second wind to the LTTE terrorists at a time when the security forces, at heavy cost, are dealing them the final blow," he was quoted as saying. | "They will be chased away [if they try] to give a second wind to the LTTE terrorists at a time when the security forces, at heavy cost, are dealing them the final blow," he was quoted as saying. |
| Mr Rajapaksa said the media organisations were sensationalising civilian hardships by playing video clips from Tamil Tiger websites. | Mr Rajapaksa said the media organisations were sensationalising civilian hardships by playing video clips from Tamil Tiger websites. |
| MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return | MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return |