Tamil Tigers admit losing ground to Lankan govt

Colombo, Aug 19: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels

today tacitly admitted they were losing ground in the face of

a major military offensive by warning that thousands of

civilians in the north were at risk.

In their first public acknowledgement that government

forces were moving deeper into areas previously held by them,

the Tigers ...

because of the military onslaught.

"Persistent shelling in this area, where two weeks ago a

large number of internally displaced people sought refuge,

forced them to (move) again further inside Kilinochchi," the

Tigers said, referring to their political capital.

"Such multiple displacements are also adding to the

delays in providing adequate shelter," the Tigers said in a

statement.

The Sri Lankan government, which pulled out of a

Norwegian-brokered ceasefire with the rebels in January, says

its troops are advancing on several fronts in their bid to

dismantle the Tamil Tigers' northern mini-state.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have

been fighting for a separate ethnic state since 1972, accused

the military of shelling civilian settlements.

"Many of the internally displaced people, who are yet to

receive temporary shelter and are thus still living under

trees, are struggling to seek shelter from the rain," the LTTE

said.

The Sri Lankan government denied the rebel claims and

said authorities were providing food and shelter to displaced

civilians living in areas still under rebel control.

Bureau Report