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Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels claim they are set to recapture Jaffna |
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May 13, 2000
NEW DELHI, MAY 12 (AP) - Hundreds of civilians fled Sri Lanka's war torn Jaffna city Friday as advancing Tamil Tiger rebels on the outskirts of their former capital warned of heavy fighting.
The navy and air force blasted the Sangupiddi causeway, which the Tigers use to move reinforcements toward Jaffna, government spokesman Ariya Rubasinghe said.
Troops also destroyed the main communication tower of the rebels at nearby Pooneryn town, he said.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga told the 40,000 soldiers who had retreated from their defense lines that it was a "decisive moment" in the 17-year battle that has left 65,000 people dead.
It was the first time the guerrillas have come so close to Jaffna, from where they ran an administration controlling Tamil areas from 1990-95 before soldiers overran the peninsula.
Most of Jaffna city's half a million residents stayed indoors during a curfew imposed for the last three days, according to a Tamil politician who said he received information from the northern city. The politician asked not to be identified and did not say how he got the information.
An aid worker who also did not want to be named said several hundred civilians carrying their belongings in bags were moving north to Valikamam West, 15 kilometers (nine miles) northwest of Jaffna.
Many civilians also boarded flimsy boats and tried to sail 22 nautical miles across the stormy Palk Straits to the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, home to some 70,000 refugees who have come over several years, the politician said.
The Tamils of Sri Lanka share a language, culture and family ties with 55 million residents of Tamil Nadu. But the Foreign Office in New Delhi said there has not been any significant influx of refugees into India.
In a broadcast over the clandestine Voice of Tigers radio, the rebels said: "Our cadres are advancing toward Jaffna city and at times there will be heavy firing and cross-firing."
The broadcast was heard by northern Sri Lanka residents who were reached by telephone. "Please go to places of safety, as we can move into the city any moment," the report said.
Air force Kfir jets and helicopters bombed the rebel backup units, delaying their move into the city.
President Kumaratunga exhorted her troops to fight, saying, "Already steps have been taken to provide you with the most modern armaments, equipment and technology needed for it."
Israel has agreed to sell eight Kfir fighter planes to Sri Lanka for dlrs 24 million, one week after the two countries restored diplomatic relations following a 30-year lapse, an official said in Jerusalem on Friday.
Israel sought U.S. permission before completing the sale since the Kfir has an American engine, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The Kfir has been the main attack aircraft of the tiny Sri Lankan air force for several years.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government acknowledged that under heavy rebel mortar fire, "troops had to readjust their defenses temporarily," and move back from Ariyalai, 5 kilometers (3 miles) southeast of Jaffna, said Rubasinghe, who is also the chief censor.
He said the army had counterattacked, causing heavy casualties among the rebels.
The government censors all news reports from Sri Lanka and prohibits live broadcasts of war news. Neither side in the war allows journalists near the battle zone and telephone lines to Jaffna have been cut.
The rebels said they captured Nedunkulam, one kilometer (half a mile) from the administrative center of Jaffna.
The rebels said they killed many soldiers, losing 13 of their own fighters in the past 24 hours. Rubasinghe said nine soldiers were killed and 86 wounded.
The government still holds the airport, its main supply link, and a tactical prize that was never lost even when the rebel controlled Jaffna.
The rebels want to carve out Eelam, a homeland in the north and the east of the country where they say the 3.2 million Tamil minority will not face discrimination from the majority Sinhalese.
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