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Sri Lanka's rebel leader 'killed' Sri Lanka's rebel leader 'killed'
(about 1 hour 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.
The military said it had crushed the Tamil Tigers' 26-year insurgency, as people around the country celebrated.The military said it had crushed the Tamil Tigers' 26-year insurgency, as people around the country celebrated.
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. See a map of the conflict regionThe claims cannot be verified as reporters are barred from the war zone. 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.European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels condemned civilian casualties and called for an inquiry into alleged war crimes by both sides.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's office said he was planning to visit Sri Lanka, without providing any further details.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's office said he was planning to visit Sri Lanka, without providing any further details.
UN humanitarian aid chief John Holmes said the priority was to evacuate all the civilians caught up in the fighting.UN humanitarian aid chief John Holmes said the priority was to evacuate all the civilians caught up in the fighting.
"Obviously, we're relieved that the fighting is finished and hope that all the civilians are indeed out of that zone, and indeed are heading towards safety, but it's hard for us to be absolutely sure about that for the moment," he said."Obviously, we're relieved that the fighting is finished and hope that all the civilians are indeed out of that zone, and indeed are heading towards safety, but it's hard for us to be absolutely sure about that for the moment," he said.
AmbushAmbush
Over the past few weeks Sri Lankan forces routed the rebels, 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. class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/8056426.stm">Peace hopes grip Sri Lankans
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.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.
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)."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.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 trying to flee advancing government troops when their vehicle was ambushed, the officials said.They were trying to flee advancing government troops when their vehicle was ambushed, the officials said.
They added that Prabhakaran's burnt body had been recovered and that DNA tests were under way.They added that Prabhakaran's burnt body had been recovered and that DNA tests were under way.
The government's information department sent news of Prabhakaran's death by text message to mobile phones across the country.The government's information department sent news of Prabhakaran's death by text message to mobile phones across the country.
Later on Monday, the heads of the three armed services were shown on national television shaking hands with President Mahinda Rajapakse.Later on Monday, the heads of the three armed services were shown on national television shaking hands with President Mahinda Rajapakse.
No official statement was issued, but AFP news agency quoted the defence minister as saying: "We have successfully ended the war."No official statement was issued, but AFP news agency quoted the defence minister as saying: "We have successfully ended the war."
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says there have been jubilant celebrations in the streets and national flags are flying off the shelves.The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says there have been jubilant celebrations in the streets and national flags are flying off the shelves.
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
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.
Under Prabhakaran, the Tigers assassinated several Sri Lankan political leaders and the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.Under Prabhakaran, the Tigers assassinated several Sri Lankan political leaders and the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.
The LTTE was branded a terrorist organisation by many countries, and Prabhakaran was wanted by Interpol - the global police network - for murder, terrorism, organised crime and conspiracy.The LTTE was branded a terrorist organisation by many countries, and Prabhakaran 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 inquiry Joy and warinessIn pictures: Sri Lanka's civil war EU seeks war crimes inquiry Joy and wariness
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.
Besides the celebrations in Colombo, there was a demonstration against Britain, with protestors accusing it of seeking to help the rebels by earlier calling for a ceasefire.Besides the celebrations in Colombo, there was a 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.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.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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