The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Colombo

Sri Lankan troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships moved against the remaining Tamil Tiger jungle strongholds after taking their political headquarters, the army said on Monday. Soldiers headed towards rebel pockets in the north of the island following their capture of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) capital of Kilinochchi on Friday, the army said. Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the Tamils launched their struggle for an autonomous homeland in 1972, but the government pulled out of ceasefire last year and launched a major offensive to crush the Tigers. "Troops in high morale after the capture of Kilinochchi town continued their forward march further and attacked LTTE terrorists in areas east of Kilinochchi and caused heavy damages to the terrorists," a statement from the army said.

Just a few dozen people were still in Kilinochichi when government soldiers secured the town after months of heavy fighting.

One resident told an AFP reporter who was flown to the town by the military on Sunday that the guerrillas had ordered civilians to shift to Mullaittivu, where the rebels are known to have their main military facilities.

Gunfire was heard in Kilinochchi on Sunday and officials said future offensives against the Tigers would be launched from the former Tiger political capital.

Troops also captured the town of Oddusuddan at the weekend, leaving Mullaittivu as the last remaining town in the hands of the LTTE.