Sri Lanka to end 25-year civil war

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-21-2009 10:27

The Sri Lankan government has given the Tamil Tiger rebels 24 hours to surrender or face a final military assault. The rebel chief has until noon on Tuesday to make up his mind.

Sri Lankan civilians carrying there belongings stream  out of the last sliver of land held by the rebels in  the Mullattivu Region of Sri Lanka in the image taken  from TV Monday April 20, 2009. (AP Photos/Derana TV.  Via AP Television)

A military spokesman said soldiers have advanced into a rebel-controlled "no-fire" zone, and seized a fortification built by the rebels. Government forces also opened up routes for more than 35-thousand people to leave the zone.

The Tamil rebels have been fighting to create an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils since the 1980s. In recent months, the rebels have been ousted from all their strongholds, and been forced to retreat to the "no-fire" zone. They've also been accused by the government of using civilians as human shields in the zone.

Editor:Zhang Yun