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| Sri Lanka rejects dialogue appeal | Sri Lanka rejects dialogue appeal |
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| The Sri Lankan government has rejected a call by international donors to the Tamil Tiger rebels to negotiate terms of surrender with the government. | |
| Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told the BBC that the government would only accept an "unconditional surrender" by the rebels. | Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told the BBC that the government would only accept an "unconditional surrender" by the rebels. |
| The donors - the US, Japan, Norway and the European Union - have also called on the Tigers to lay down their arms. | The donors - the US, Japan, Norway and the European Union - have also called on the Tigers to lay down their arms. |
| The government has ruled out a ceasefire and vowed to crush them. | The government has ruled out a ceasefire and vowed to crush them. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| Mr Rajapaksa told the BBC: "There is no question of negotiations on surrender. The rebels should surrender unconditionally. They should lay down their arms first." | Mr Rajapaksa told the BBC: "There is no question of negotiations on surrender. The rebels should surrender unconditionally. They should lay down their arms first." |
| He ruled out any amnesty for top rebel leaders, but said that "lower level cadres" would be "given amnesty, retrained, given vocational training and integrated into mainstream society". | He ruled out any amnesty for top rebel leaders, but said that "lower level cadres" would be "given amnesty, retrained, given vocational training and integrated into mainstream society". |
| INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19901993: President Premadasa killed by Tiger bomb2001: Attack on airport destroys half Sri Lankan Airlines fleet2002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2005: Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes president2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu In pictures: Inside 'Tiger bunker'Sri Lanka journalists 'risk death'Voices from Sri Lanka | INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19901993: President Premadasa killed by Tiger bomb2001: Attack on airport destroys half Sri Lankan Airlines fleet2002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2005: Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes president2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu In pictures: Inside 'Tiger bunker'Sri Lanka journalists 'risk death'Voices from Sri Lanka |
| Mr Rajapakse also rejected a ceasefire call by the US, UK and Canada, saying that the rebels had used ceasefire time "only to regroup and attack security forces". | Mr Rajapakse also rejected a ceasefire call by the US, UK and Canada, saying that the rebels had used ceasefire time "only to regroup and attack security forces". |
| "When the government declared a 48-hour ceasefire period last week, the rebels used the period to launch suicide attacks near the frontlines using three trucks loaded with explosives," he said. | "When the government declared a 48-hour ceasefire period last week, the rebels used the period to launch suicide attacks near the frontlines using three trucks loaded with explosives," he said. |
| The government and rebels have come under pressure to declare a ceasefire. | The government and rebels have come under pressure to declare a ceasefire. |
| This will allow casualties to be evacuated from the war zone in the north-east. Up to 250,000 civilians may be trapped. | This will allow casualties to be evacuated from the war zone in the north-east. Up to 250,000 civilians may be trapped. |
| The Tigers have said they will not lay down their arms until they have a "guarantee of living with freedom and dignity and sovereignty". | The Tigers have said they will not lay down their arms until they have a "guarantee of living with freedom and dignity and sovereignty". |
| Meanwhile, heavy fighting between the government forces and soldiers is continuing in the north-east of the country, says the BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan in Colombo. | Meanwhile, heavy fighting between the government forces and soldiers is continuing in the north-east of the country, says the BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan in Colombo. |
| A military spokesman said the army has beaten back counter attacks by the rebels in the Mullaitivu area. | A military spokesman said the army has beaten back counter attacks by the rebels in the Mullaitivu area. |
| On Wednesday, the United Nations said that 52 civilians had been killed in 24 hours of fighting. | On Wednesday, the United Nations said that 52 civilians had been killed in 24 hours of fighting. |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said the rebels' defeat is imminent. | President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said the rebels' defeat is imminent. |
| MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return | MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return |