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26 LTTE cadres killed in latest fighting in North Sri Lanka

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, April 8, IRNA -- At least twenty six Tamil Tigers were killed in latest fighting in the Sri Lanka's north.

Meanwhile, on the brink of handing total defeat to the beleaguered Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lankan army today asked the remaining rebel fighters in the island's north to surrender and release the civilians trapped in the conflict zone.

Army personnel urged the rebels through loudspeakers to allow the Tamil civilians in Pudukudiyirippu to cross over to the government-controlled region and hand themselves over to the security forces, PTI reported.

Forty two civilians yesterday moved to the government areas from the 'No Fire Zone' (NFZ), the 20 sq kms stretch in the north were the LTTE is now confined to, taking to over 65,000 the total number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who shifted from the rebel-held territory.

The NFZ in Pudukudiyirippu area of Mullaittivu, though demarcated by the government as a safety zone for civilians held by the Tigers, has now also become the sanctuary for the top rebels leaders, including LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran, Sri Lankan Defense Ministry said.

Meanwhile, troops engaged in confrontations with the LTTE cadres manning the last rebel earth bund situated near the NFZ in west of Ampalavanpkkanai.

Army snipers deployed in the Forward Areas killed 11 LTTE rebels, the military said. Soldiers are now maneuvering towards northern bank of Nanthikadal lagoon in Mullaittivu, which is still under LTTE control.

Meanwhile, exuding confidence that LTTE will never 'raise its head again' after it suffered a string of military defeats at the hands of the Sri Lankan Army, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the rebels to surrender, promising to 'rehabilitate' them as 'good citizens'.

"Ninety nine percent of the LTTE, its leaders, cadres and infrastructure have been destroyed. There is no way the LTTE can raise its head again," Rajapaksa said.

The president hailed Sri Lankan armed forces as one of the best in the world and said he was 'proud' to be their commander-in-chief.

"I ask the remaining LTTE cadres to surrender. We will look after them and rehabilitate them. We will make them good and productive citizen of this country," said the president.

He was responding to a query by The Bottom Line Newspaper on his reaction to the recent victories achieved by the security forces over the LTTE.