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| Sri Lanka |
| Sri Lankan troops close to rebels' de facto capital |
| 2008-08-03 |
| Sri Lankan government troops have entered the district housing the Tamil Tiger rebels' de facto capital for the first time in 11 years, the military said Saturday as a regional summit opened in the capital. Fierce new fighting between government forces and the rebels across the country's embattled northern region killed 35 rebels and 14 soldiers, the military said. Leaders and officials from eight South Asian nations gathered Saturday in Colombo for an annual regional summit. The government sealed off roads and sent 19,000 troops and soldiers onto the streets of the capital to prevent any bombings. A rebel attack in the capital during the summit would be deeply embarrassing for the government. Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said army troops had crossed into Kilinochchi district, where the rebels' de facto capital is located, in fighting Thursday for the first time in 11 years. He did not give details about casualties, but said troops had moved about one kilometre into the district. |
| Posted by:Fred |