Troops encircle last 8 sq km in the NFZ

(April 23, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sensing an imminent collapse of the LTTE, Security forces today encircled the last 8 sq km patch of area in northern war zone where they suspect Tiger supremo V Prabhakaran and his top aides are holed up and put naval warships on full alert to foil any escape bid by the rebels.

A naval blockade was put around northern Mullaittivu close to the areas where LTTE cadres still had access to the sea as Sri Lankan Army chief Sarath Fonseka said the troops knew the "general area" where Prabhakaran could be hiding.

Backed by tanks, the Lankan forces surrounded the small jungle patch where an estimated 800-900 Tamil Tigers were still offering resistance.

"We are set to destroy him," Fonseka said, admitting that his forces were facing stiff resistance from the remnant LTTE cadres.

But the Army chief said the security forces' primary task at the moment was to get trapped Tamil civilians out of the war zone to safety.

Echoing his chief's words, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanyakkara said, "fierce fighting was going on. But our priority is to get the civilians out."

"We can finish them off very quickly after the civilians come out," the spokesman said.

The Lankan army chief said that Prabhakaran would try to escape through the seas so the navy is on full alert to thwart any escape bid by the top Tiger leadership.

"The Sri Lankan Navy has been put on alert to prevent any attempt by Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran or other senior LTTE leaders from fleeing the country," a senior defence official told PTI.

"We do not know the exact place where he is hiding but we suspect, he most probably is hiding amongst civilians trying to take cover behind them," Fonseka said.

"According to the orders given to us by the government we are continuing our mission to destroy the terrorists. These days we have a greater mission. We have to save the civilians who were used as human shields," the army chief told BBC.

"I think there will be a maximum of around 15,000 civilians in the remaining areas of the LTTE in the No fire zone. There are around 300-400 cadres though around 700 civilians are forced to take up arms and were also deployed in bunkers," Fonseka said.

Fonseka said according to the information, certain activities have taken place in those seas from where the LTTE has got access.

"I think also this time around he (Prabhakaran) will attempt to reach his desired destination via sea," he said.

Meanwhile, the Mass Media and Information Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene told reporters that the army has not launched attacks into the no fire zone in the recent past.

-Sri Lanka Guardian