Sri Lankan troops take Tamil Tiger stronghold
Government operations have succeeded in taking control of land in the country's north-east from the Tamil Tigers
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Sunday, 25, Jan 2009 03:40
Sri Lanka's government has said its troops have taken Mullaitivu, the last stronghold of the Tamil Tigers.
The army has already regained control of cities such as Kilinochchi, which was previously considered to be the centre of the rebel group's operations.
Lieutenant General Sarath Fonsek said troops had "completely captured" Mullaitivu after a month of fighting.
Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapakse has been pursuing an aggressive strategy against the Tigers after ending ceasefire negotiations and launching an offensive to remove the group, which is seeking an independent state for Sri Lanka's Tamil population.
According to Lt Gen Fonsek, the capture of Mullaitivu means the conflict with the Tigers is "95 per cent over", the Associated Press news agency reports.
The Tamil Tigers are yet to respond to the government's claims.
Over 70,000 people have been killed since the rebel group launched a campaign for a state for Tamils in 1983.