This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/5311620.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lankan troops take key town | Sri Lankan troops take key town |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Sri Lankan troops have taken control of a crucial area near the north-eastern town of Trincomalee held by the Tamil Tiger rebels, the military says. | Sri Lankan troops have taken control of a crucial area near the north-eastern town of Trincomalee held by the Tamil Tiger rebels, the military says. |
| A defence spokesman said government forces had met little resistance when they moved into the town of Sampur. | A defence spokesman said government forces had met little resistance when they moved into the town of Sampur. |
| The rebels, who have used the area to launch artillery attacks on Trincomalee port, have vowed to carry on fighting. | The rebels, who have used the area to launch artillery attacks on Trincomalee port, have vowed to carry on fighting. |
| Clashes around Sampur started more than a week ago. Sporadic violence is continuing in the north of the country. | Clashes around Sampur started more than a week ago. Sporadic violence is continuing in the north of the country. |
| The only resistance we encountered was mines and booby-trapped devices Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/5313814.stm" class="">Army's strategic gain href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/5298074.stm" class="">Life on the edge in Jaffna | |
| The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says the fall of Sampur is a strategic victory for the government, but adds that analysts believe the Tigers may retaliate elsewhere. | The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says the fall of Sampur is a strategic victory for the government, but adds that analysts believe the Tigers may retaliate elsewhere. |
| Trincomalee, with its naval and industrial resources, still remains vulnerable to further attack by the rebels, who retain control of other territory in the area. | Trincomalee, with its naval and industrial resources, still remains vulnerable to further attack by the rebels, who retain control of other territory in the area. |
| It is the first change of territorial control since a ceasefire was agreed in 2002. | It is the first change of territorial control since a ceasefire was agreed in 2002. |
| The Tamil Tigers have called on international truce monitors to declare the ceasefire now officially over. The monitors say only the government or the rebels themselves can do that. | The Tamil Tigers have called on international truce monitors to declare the ceasefire now officially over. The monitors say only the government or the rebels themselves can do that. |
| 'Total control' | 'Total control' |
| Troops backed by air support began a major offensive to take Sampur in late August. | Troops backed by air support began a major offensive to take Sampur in late August. |
| The military said its forces entered Sampur in the early hours of Monday, that it now controls 75% of the area and that it would move to consolidate that. | The military said its forces entered Sampur in the early hours of Monday, that it now controls 75% of the area and that it would move to consolidate that. |
| "We are in total control," defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters. | "We are in total control," defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters. |
| He said the entire harbour mouth, including several Sea Tiger bases, was now in the hands of the military. | He said the entire harbour mouth, including several Sea Tiger bases, was now in the hands of the military. |
| "Troops are now engaged in clearing operations," he said. "The only resistance we encountered was mines and booby-trapped devices." | "Troops are now engaged in clearing operations," he said. "The only resistance we encountered was mines and booby-trapped devices." |
| President Mahinda Rajapakse formally announced the capture of the strategically-important town at a rally of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party. | President Mahinda Rajapakse formally announced the capture of the strategically-important town at a rally of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party. |
| "Our troops have captured Sampur," he said to loud applause. "This is not war, we are only responding to an attack on us." | "Our troops have captured Sampur," he said to loud applause. "This is not war, we are only responding to an attack on us." |
| The Tamil Tigers said their fighters were still "fiercely resisting" government troops. | The Tamil Tigers said their fighters were still "fiercely resisting" government troops. |
| "We are still fighting in the Sampur area," the rebels' political leader in the Trincomalee area, Elilan, told the BBC. | "We are still fighting in the Sampur area," the rebels' political leader in the Trincomalee area, Elilan, told the BBC. |
| But another rebel spokesman conceded that the town itself was no longer in their hands. | But another rebel spokesman conceded that the town itself was no longer in their hands. |
| The rebels say the army's advance claimed nearly 100 civilian lives and that thousands of others have been displaced. | The rebels say the army's advance claimed nearly 100 civilian lives and that thousands of others have been displaced. |
| The past month has seen the worst violence since the truce deal was struck four years ago. | The past month has seen the worst violence since the truce deal was struck four years ago. |
| Hundreds of people, many of them civilians, have been killed in clashes this year. | Hundreds of people, many of them civilians, have been killed in clashes this year. |
| The UN says more than 200,000 people have been displaced. | The UN says more than 200,000 people have been displaced. |