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Sri Lankan rebel leader 'killed' Sri Lankan rebel leader 'killed'
(19 minutes later)
The leader of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels, Velupillai Prabhakaran, has been killed, the military says.The leader of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels, Velupillai Prabhakaran, has been killed, the military says.
It said Prabhakaran - along with two of his top commanders - had died while trying to flee from the last rebel-held patch of jungle in the north-east.It said Prabhakaran - along with two of his top commanders - had died while trying to flee from the last rebel-held patch of jungle in the north-east.
Hours later, the government declared victory in the 26-year war with the rebels, during a televised ceremony.Hours later, the government declared victory in the 26-year war with the rebels, during a televised ceremony.
No photos of Prabhakaran's body have been released. The army says it is working to identify it among the dead.No photos of Prabhakaran's body have been released. The army says it is working to identify it among the dead.
The claims cannot be verified as reporters are barred from the war zone. The claims cannot be verified as reporters are barred from the war zone. name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a map of the conflict region
name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a map of the conflict region European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels condemned civilian casualties and called for an inquiry into alleged war crimes by both sides.
"Today we finished the work handed to us by the president to liberate the country from the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)," army chief Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka said in the broadcast. Ambush
Sri Lankan forces had routed the rebels in the past few weeks, overrunning their territory. Over the past few weeks Sri Lankan forces routed the rebels, overrunning their territory.
The BBC's Charles Haviland, in ColomboThe BBC's Charles Haviland, in Colombo
There is jubilation in the streets as crowds cheer, light firecrackers and wave the national flag to greet the announcement from the army chief, Gen Sarath Fonseka, that "all military operations have come to a stop".There is jubilation in the streets as crowds cheer, light firecrackers and wave the national flag to greet the announcement from the army chief, Gen Sarath Fonseka, that "all military operations have come to a stop".
In the old bazaar area, Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and other people told the BBC they were relieved.In the old bazaar area, Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and other people told the BBC they were relieved.
For decades they had feared boarding buses or visiting temples, some said, for fear of bombs.For decades they had feared boarding buses or visiting temples, some said, for fear of bombs.
Now they hoped there would be peace with development.Now they hoped there would be peace with development.
There's still widespread humanitarian concern about civilians who may have been caught up in the fighting.There's still widespread humanitarian concern about civilians who may have been caught up in the fighting.
The broadcast quoted military officials as saying Prabhakaran had been killed along with his intelligence chief Pottu Amman and Soosai, the head of the rebels' naval wing. Army chief Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka said on Monday: "Today we finished the work handed to us by the president to liberate the country from the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)."
Military officials said Prabhakaran had been killed along with his intelligence chief Pottu Amman and Soosai, the head of the rebels' naval wing.
They were shot dead in an ambush in the Mullivaikal district while trying to escape the war zone in an ambulance, the general added.They were shot dead in an ambush in the Mullivaikal district while trying to escape the war zone in an ambulance, the general added.
The government's information department also sent news of Prabhakaran's death by text message to mobile phones across the country.The government's information department also sent news of Prabhakaran's death by text message to mobile phones across the country.
Later on Monday, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse declared victory during in a nationally televised ceremony. Later on Monday, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse reaffirmed the government's victory during in a televised ceremony.
"We have successfully ended the war," he is quoted as saying by AFP news agency."We have successfully ended the war," he is quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
Earlier, at least three senior rebel leaders were killed, including Prabhakaran's eldest son, Charles Anthony, the military said.Earlier, at least three senior rebel leaders were killed, including Prabhakaran's eldest son, Charles Anthony, the military said.
State TV broadcast images of what it said was Charles Anthony's body.State TV broadcast images of what it said was Charles Anthony's body.
The military said 250 Tamil Tigers had been also killed overnight.The military said 250 Tamil Tigers had been also killed overnight.
In the past few days, the LTTE had been hemmed into a 300 sq metre (3,230 sq ft) patch of land - a tiny part of the 15,000 sq km territory they had controlled until recently.
VELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN Born November, 19541972: Founded Tamil New Tigers (TNT), forerunner of LTTEWanted in Sri Lanka and India Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran Protest over UK role in Sri Lanka Tamils hunt for news of relatives End of the road for rebelsVELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN Born November, 19541972: Founded Tamil New Tigers (TNT), forerunner of LTTEWanted in Sri Lanka and India Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran Protest over UK role in Sri Lanka Tamils hunt for news of relatives End of the road for rebels
In the past few days, the LTTE had been hemmed into a 300 sq m (3,230 sq ft) patch of land - a tiny part of the 15,000 sq km territory they had controlled until recently.
The BBC's world affairs correspondent Adam Mynott says Prabhakaran was a shadowy figure, constantly under the threat of arrest or assassination.The BBC's world affairs correspondent Adam Mynott says Prabhakaran was a shadowy figure, constantly under the threat of arrest or assassination.
He says he fashioned a ruthless and uncompromising fighting force, which assassinated several Sri Lankan political leaders and the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.He says he fashioned a ruthless and uncompromising fighting force, which assassinated several Sri Lankan political leaders and the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.
Under Prabhakaran's leadership the LTTE was branded a terrorist organisation by many countries, and he was wanted by Interpol - the global police network - for murder, terrorism, organised crime and conspiracy.Under Prabhakaran's leadership the LTTE was branded a terrorist organisation by many countries, and he was wanted by Interpol - the global police network - for murder, terrorism, organised crime and conspiracy.
Anger and jubilationAnger and jubilation
There is still widespread international concern about civilians who may have been caught up in the fighting.There is still widespread international concern about civilians who may have been caught up in the fighting.
In pictures: Sri Lanka's civil war EU seeks war crimes inquiryIn pictures: Sri Lanka's civil war EU seeks war crimes inquiry
Sources in the UN say significant numbers of civilians were still in the combat zone but the Sri Lankan government said all civilians had left.Sources in the UN say significant numbers of civilians were still in the combat zone but the Sri Lankan government said all civilians had left.
There have been street celebrations in the capital, Colombo, but also an angry demonstration against Britain, with protestors accusing it of seeking to help the rebels by earlier calling for a ceasefire.There have been street celebrations in the capital, Colombo, but also an angry demonstration against Britain, with protestors accusing it of seeking to help the rebels by earlier calling for a ceasefire.
More than 1,000 Sri Lankans protested outside the British High Commission. Some protesters threw stones and burnt an effigy of UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband.More than 1,000 Sri Lankans protested outside the British High Commission. Some protesters threw stones and burnt an effigy of UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
A High Commission spokesman said it was "an outrage" that the Sri Lankan authorities let the demonstration become so violent.A High Commission spokesman said it was "an outrage" that the Sri Lankan authorities let the demonstration become so violent.
The Tigers had been fighting for a separate state for Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka since the 1970s.The Tigers had been fighting for a separate state for Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka since the 1970s.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict and thousands displaced.More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict and thousands displaced.
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