35,000 civilians flee Tiger area;24-hr deadline for LTTE chief

T V Sriram

Colombo, Apr 20 (PTI) More than 35,000 trapped Tamil
civilians Monday made a dramatic breakout from the LTTE-
controlled areas in Sri Lanka's embattled north with Sri
Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa handing out a last 24-hour
deadline for Tiger Supremo V Prabhakaran and his top aides to
surrender.

Proclaiming that the mass exodus indicated a "complete
defeat" of Tigers was imminent, Rajapaksa warned after this
his forces would make an "all out" bid to wrest the last 20 sq
kilometers area from the Tiger control on the northern coast.

As the breakout was unfolding two suicide bomb attacks
suspected to be Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
handiwork were reported in the no-fire zone in which 17 people
were feared killed.

Displaying aerial video footage of masses of trapped
civilians making a beeline for freedom shot by Sri Lankan spy
planes flying overhead, the President said the exodus has come
as his forces made a significant breakthrough by capturing
LTTE defence fortification bunds outside the no-fire zone.

"The video footage clearly shows that the people are
defying the rebels and are escaping. They are running for
safety," Rajapaksa said.

The President went to the Air Force Headquarters to
watch the visuals of Tamil civilians making a breakout for
freedom.

Elaborating on the ultimatum, a Defence spokesman told
PTI that the ultimatum had begun at 1200 hrs local time. PTI