Making a final push to overrun the last patch of LTTE-held territory, Sri Lankan forces on Wednesday pushed deeper, capturing six km of the 18 km 'No Fire Zone' as thousands of trapped Tamils civilians continued to flee the northern war zone.
Making a final push to overrun the last patch of LTTE-held territory, Sri Lankan forces on Wednesday pushed deeper, capturing six km of the 18 km 'No Fire Zone' as thousands of trapped Tamils civilians continued to flee the northern war zone.
Over 80,000 civilians have so far crossed over to government controlled 'safe zone' till this morning, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.
ADVERTISEMENT
UN and other aid agencies estimates are that there could be anywhere up to 200,000 people trapped in the No Fire Zone.
Satellite imagery of the embattled zone released for the first time showed that tens of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils were squeezed into the last small strip of land controlled by the Tamil Tigers.
The imagery released by the US State Department shows about 25,000 tents packed into a coastal strip about 18 sq km, promoting US and Red Cross officials to ask Colombo for a pause to enable women and children escape the conflict zone.
At least 46 rebels were killed in fresh fighting as Sri Lankan troops moved north of Ampalawanpokkani in hunt for the LTTE chief V Prabhakaran and his top aides with top government officials saying that they were still holed up in the area.
A top LTTE leader had said yesterday that Prabhakaran was still in the battle zone and leading his men in conflict.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
