Government forces have seized a final strip of land from Tamil Tiger rebels in a key northern peninsula of Sri Lanka, securing control of the symbolic heart of the 25-year separatist insurgency, the military said.The defense secretary, meanwhile, accused some journalists of being "terrorists" trying to save the rebel group from the brink of defeat.
The military took full control Wednesday of the northern Jaffna peninsula, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority, leaving the rebels in control of only one remaining district.
The peninsula was fully secured when soldiers captured Chundikkulam village, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said. Last week, troops captured the Elephant Pass base, the insurgents' final stronghold on the peninsula. Nanayakkara said the rebels retreated with their dead and that the military did not suffer any casualties.
Rebel officials could not be reached for comment.