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New Tamil Tiger head is arrested New Tamil Tiger head is arrested
(about 1 hour later)
The Tamil Tiger rebels' new leader, Selvarasa Pathmanathan, has been arrested, officials say. The new leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels, Selvarasa Pathmanathan, has been arrested, officials say.
Sri Lanka's defence secretary told the BBC that Mr Pathmanathan, better known as KP, was arrested on Wednesday. He was arrested in a a south-east Asian country but he is currently being held in Sri Lanka.
The exact circumstances surrounding his arrest in a south-east Asian country are unclear.
The rebels have confirmed the arrest. Mr Pathmanathan became the leader of the remnants of the Tigers after their defeat in May by Sri Lankan forces.The rebels have confirmed the arrest. Mr Pathmanathan became the leader of the remnants of the Tigers after their defeat in May by Sri Lankan forces.
Non-violent methods But the BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says the exact circumstances surrounding his arrest remain unclear.
"He is in Sri Lanka now and is being questioned by investigators at the moment," Sri Lankan military spokesperson Brig Udaya Nanayakkara told the BBC. While Mr Pathmanathan is in the custody of the Sri Lankan authorities, he was reportedly picked up in a south-east Asian country.
The war in Sri Lanka ended earlier this year Earlier reports from Sri Lankan military officials suggested the arrest took place in Thailand, but Bangkok later denied such reports.
Earlier reports from Sri Lankan military officials suggested the arrest took place in Thailand, but Bangkok later denied them. Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn denied Mr Pathmanathan was arrested in his country but conceded there were "reports that he has been travelling in and out of Thailand".
A pro-rebel website said Mr Pathmanathan was abducted from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, and blamed Sri Lankan and Malaysian intelligence for his disappearance. A pro-rebel website said Mr Pathmanathan was abducted from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur and blamed Sri Lankan and Malaysian intelligence for his disappearance.
He was wanted on two Interpol warrants. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters he could neither confirm nor deny the report.
Earlier, Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, confirmed to the BBC that the new Tamil Tiger leader had been arrested, but did not elaborate on the circumstances. Officials from both countries have cast doubt on the varying accounts and the full details are not likely to emerge soon, our correspondent says.
Mr Pathmanathan was widely believed to be running the rebels' arms and smuggling networks for years. 'Very significant'
He took over the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after Velupillai Prabhakaran and other top commanders were killed during the military offensive in north-eastern Sri Lanka in May. Speaking to journalists in Colombo, defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella, would only say that Mr Pathmanathan was arrested "in the Asian region" within the past couple of days.
As the new rebel leader, Mr Pathmanathan said the LTTE had decided to silence their guns and would try non-violent methods to achieve their goal of a separate state for the Tamil minority. He described the arrest as "very very significant" because, he said, while Mr Pathmanathan was still at large many people thought the Tamil Tigers were still "alive and kicking".
Analysts say his arrest has created a vacuum among the moderate elements within the LTTE supporters living overseas and is a significant blow for the organisation. Mr Pathmanathan is believed to have run the LTTE's arms procurement and smuggling networks and was wanted by Interpol
Mr Pathmanathan is also wanted in India in connection with the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by a suspected Tamil female suicide bomber in 1991.Mr Pathmanathan is also wanted in India in connection with the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by a suspected Tamil female suicide bomber in 1991.
The war in Sri Lanka ended earlier this year
"He is in Sri Lanka now and is being questioned by investigators at the moment," Sri Lankan military spokesperson Brig Udaya Nanayakkara told the BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan.
At the close of Sri Lanka's war he issued a statement saying the Tigers would try to achieve their goals using non-violent methods. Only two weeks ago he was named as their new head.
As the new rebel leader, Mr Pathmanathan said the LTTE would try non-violent methods to achieve their goal of a separate state for the Tamil minority.