Sri Lanka's military chief says his forces have wiped out the Tamil rebels' ability to fight as a conventional army.
Lieutenant
General Sarath Fonseka said Monday the rebels have changed their
tactics, and they no longer have the strength or willpower to fight.
He estimated the rebels would lose even their current reduced capability within a year.
Fonseka
said 9,000 Tamil rebels have been killed in the past two years,
and that about 5,000 fighters remain. He said 1,700 soldiers
died during the same period.
The rebels have not reacted to Fonseka's comments.
Also
Monday, police in the capital, Colombo, said a group of unidentified
men assaulted a British High Commission employee and a journalist
traveling in a car. Both were wounded.
Britain's High Commissioner Peter Hayes condemned what he called the "despicable act" and demanded a full investigation.
Tamil
Tigers have been fighting for an independent homeland for ethnic Tamils
in the country's north and east since 1983. More than 70,000 people
died in the conflict.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.