Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 2, 2007

Sri Lankan Military Says Tamil Tigers Sea Base Captured
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1931D99:A6F02AD83191E1609A9DBA5E4572FB369574F7DCC14957C0 Army says Tamil
radio communications indicate 11 rebels were killed in clashes, but
rebels said they lost only one fighter



The Sri Lankan military says it has captured a Tamil Tiger sea base in
the northeastern district of Mannar.

Military officials say Sunday that the army has consolidated its hold
on the area of Silavathurai, which it seized Saturday.

The army said it had intercepted radio communications that indicated
11 Tamil rebels were killed in clashes with government forces Friday.

However, the rebels said they lost only one fighter, and killed a
government soldier.

The Tamil Tigers also said nine civilians who were fleeing the area
were killed in a military mine attack. The military blames rebels for
the incident.

A military spokesman, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, said the new
operation is a "humanitarian offensive" to liberate about six thousand
people being held in the area.

Fighting between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels has
intensified recently despite a 2002 cease-fire.

Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for a separate homeland for
Sri Lanka's minority Tamils. About 70,000 people have been killed in
the conflict.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.




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