COLOMBO, SRI LANKA // Sri Lanka's military seized a key crossroads in the north from the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels today after fierce clashes that killed at least 54 fighters, an official said.
Capturing the strategic Paranthan junction after 10 years under rebel control is the latest in a series of battle successes for the government, which has vowed to defeat the insurgents this year to end their 25-year separatist campaign.
Government officials made the same prediction last year but faced stiff rebel resistance. Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said taking control of Paranthan after about six weeks of fighting will open a third front against the guerrillas' de facto capital of Kilinochchi, which is 4 kilometres to the south. It will also isolate a rebel stronghold at Elephant Pass to the north and allow soldiers to march into north-eastern rebel territory, he said. Kilinochchi has eluded the military for months despite top officials' claims of its imminent fall.
The military said in a statement today that infantry troops entered Paranthan yesterday with air force jet and helicopter support and fought close-range battles for a day to beat back rebel resistance.
"Unable to withstand the fury of the combined army and air force onslaught, LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) terrorists withdrew from the town in total disarray," the statement said. About 50 rebels and four soldiers were killed in the fighting, Mr Nanayakkara said. Soldiers also captured Iranamadu junction on the south of Kilinochchi today, Mr Nanayakkara added, calling it another boon for the troops fighting to capture the rebel stronghold. He did not give casualty details.
The latest government offensives have forced the rebels to abandon territory and retreat into an increasingly shrinking area in the north-east. Rebel officials could not be contacted for comment. The rebels have been fighting since 1983 to create an independent homeland for the minority Tamils, who have suffered decades of marginalisation by successive governments controlled by the Sinhalese majority. The conflict has killed more than 70,000 people.
*AP
NO OTHER LAND
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Dhadak
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
