ID :
57156
Fri, 04/24/2009 - 07:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/57156
The shortlink copeid
Lankan forces close in on LTTE chief Prabhakaran's hideout By T V Sriram
Colombo, Apr 23 (PTI) Setting the stage for the final
assault on the LTTE, Sri Lankan forces today encircled a small
strip of land in the north, where Tiger supremo V Prabhakaran
is believed to be holed up, and deployed warships to foil any
escape bid by rebels amid global calls for a truce.
Backed by tanks, the security forces surrounded the 8 sq
km jungle patch, where an estimated 800-900 Tamil Tigers were
still offering resistance, the military said.
A naval blockade was put around northern Mullaittivu
close to the areas where LTTE cadres still had access to the
sea as Sri Lankan Army chief Sarath Fonseka said the troops
knew the "general area" where Prabhakaran could be hiding.
"We are set to destroy him," Fonseka said, admitting that
troops were facing stiff resistance from remnant LTTE cadres.
But the Army chief said the security forces' primary task
at the moment was to get trapped Tamil civilians out of the
war zone to safety. Authorities had earlier said that more
than one lakh civilians had fled the war zone.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama termed the flow of
civilians from the northern region in the past few days as an
"emergency humanitarian situation."
"Our friends in the international community are most
welcome to provide emergency relief assistance by way of
semi-permanent shelter, water purification plants, sanitation
facilities and medical assistance," he told reporters.
Calling the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka's war
zone as "absolutely critical", the United Nations, US and UK
sought a pause in fighting and demanded access to the northern
areas to help the trapped Tamil civilians.
In a non-binding statement, the 15-member UN Security
Council asked the LTTE to immediately surrender, renounce
terrorism and join the political process through dialogue to
put an end to the ethnic conflict.
Voicing concern over the plight of the civilians in Sri
Lanka's conflict zone, British Foreign Secretary David
Miliband favoured "a fully inclusive" political process for
lasting peace in that country.
The US described the current situation in Sri Lanka as "a
terrible humanitarian tragedy" with Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton saying that Washington has been pressing Sri Lankan
government for a halt in fighting so that "we could secure a
safe passage for as many of the trapped civilians as
possible".
Sri Lankan military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanyakkara
said that "fierce fighting" was going on, but the priority was
to get the civilians out.
"We can finish them (LTTE) off very quickly after the
civilians come out," the spokesman said.
Lankan army chief Fonseka said that Prabhakaran could try
to escape through the sea.
Sri Lankan Navy has been put on alert to prevent any
attempt by Prabhakaran or other senior LTTE leaders from
fleeing the country, a senior defence official told PTI.
"We do not know the exact place where he is hiding but we
suspect, he most probably is hiding amongst civilians trying
to take cover behind them," Fonseka said.
"According to the orders given to us by the government we
are continuing our mission to destroy the terrorists. These
days we have a greater mission. We have to save the civilians
who are used as human shields," the army chief told BBC.
He estimated that there would be a maximum of around
15,000 civilians in the remaining areas of the LTTE in the no
fire zone. "There are around 300-400 cadres though around 700
civilians are forced to take up arms and are also deployed in
bunkers," Fonseka said.
The number of people, who crossed over from the no fire
zone since Monday, rose to 103,143, according to officials.
Fonseka said he had information that certain activities
had taken place in the sea routes to which LTTE has access.
"I think also this time around he (Prabhakaran) will
attempt to reach his desired destination via sea," he said.
Meanwhile, the pro-rebel Tamilnet website claimed that
Sri Lankan navy's fast attack craft surrounded a Red Cross
ship, which was approaching Mullivaaykkaal to transport the
seriously wounded people to medical facilities.
It alleged the navy vessels were firing cannon shots
towards the shore, hampering medical transportation of some
700 injured people from a makeshift hospital. PTI TVS
SAK
NNNN
assault on the LTTE, Sri Lankan forces today encircled a small
strip of land in the north, where Tiger supremo V Prabhakaran
is believed to be holed up, and deployed warships to foil any
escape bid by rebels amid global calls for a truce.
Backed by tanks, the security forces surrounded the 8 sq
km jungle patch, where an estimated 800-900 Tamil Tigers were
still offering resistance, the military said.
A naval blockade was put around northern Mullaittivu
close to the areas where LTTE cadres still had access to the
sea as Sri Lankan Army chief Sarath Fonseka said the troops
knew the "general area" where Prabhakaran could be hiding.
"We are set to destroy him," Fonseka said, admitting that
troops were facing stiff resistance from remnant LTTE cadres.
But the Army chief said the security forces' primary task
at the moment was to get trapped Tamil civilians out of the
war zone to safety. Authorities had earlier said that more
than one lakh civilians had fled the war zone.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama termed the flow of
civilians from the northern region in the past few days as an
"emergency humanitarian situation."
"Our friends in the international community are most
welcome to provide emergency relief assistance by way of
semi-permanent shelter, water purification plants, sanitation
facilities and medical assistance," he told reporters.
Calling the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka's war
zone as "absolutely critical", the United Nations, US and UK
sought a pause in fighting and demanded access to the northern
areas to help the trapped Tamil civilians.
In a non-binding statement, the 15-member UN Security
Council asked the LTTE to immediately surrender, renounce
terrorism and join the political process through dialogue to
put an end to the ethnic conflict.
Voicing concern over the plight of the civilians in Sri
Lanka's conflict zone, British Foreign Secretary David
Miliband favoured "a fully inclusive" political process for
lasting peace in that country.
The US described the current situation in Sri Lanka as "a
terrible humanitarian tragedy" with Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton saying that Washington has been pressing Sri Lankan
government for a halt in fighting so that "we could secure a
safe passage for as many of the trapped civilians as
possible".
Sri Lankan military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanyakkara
said that "fierce fighting" was going on, but the priority was
to get the civilians out.
"We can finish them (LTTE) off very quickly after the
civilians come out," the spokesman said.
Lankan army chief Fonseka said that Prabhakaran could try
to escape through the sea.
Sri Lankan Navy has been put on alert to prevent any
attempt by Prabhakaran or other senior LTTE leaders from
fleeing the country, a senior defence official told PTI.
"We do not know the exact place where he is hiding but we
suspect, he most probably is hiding amongst civilians trying
to take cover behind them," Fonseka said.
"According to the orders given to us by the government we
are continuing our mission to destroy the terrorists. These
days we have a greater mission. We have to save the civilians
who are used as human shields," the army chief told BBC.
He estimated that there would be a maximum of around
15,000 civilians in the remaining areas of the LTTE in the no
fire zone. "There are around 300-400 cadres though around 700
civilians are forced to take up arms and are also deployed in
bunkers," Fonseka said.
The number of people, who crossed over from the no fire
zone since Monday, rose to 103,143, according to officials.
Fonseka said he had information that certain activities
had taken place in the sea routes to which LTTE has access.
"I think also this time around he (Prabhakaran) will
attempt to reach his desired destination via sea," he said.
Meanwhile, the pro-rebel Tamilnet website claimed that
Sri Lankan navy's fast attack craft surrounded a Red Cross
ship, which was approaching Mullivaaykkaal to transport the
seriously wounded people to medical facilities.
It alleged the navy vessels were firing cannon shots
towards the shore, hampering medical transportation of some
700 injured people from a makeshift hospital. PTI TVS
SAK
NNNN
