Colombo: Sri Lankan forces on Thursday fought their way to just 800 meters from the area where an estimated 10,000-15,000 Tamil civilians are trapped along with the top LTTE leadership, capturing a rebel fortification and killing a number of LTTE members.
The government troops pushed into the rebel-held village of Karayamulliavaikkal, advancing over areas heavily mined by the rebels and fighting off attacks from their suicide bombers.
A military spokesman said the troops had breached through the last earthen fortification bringing them as close as 800 meters of the area in Mullaitivu, where the LTTE leadership is holed up in the midst of Tamil civilians.
The Spokesman said the LTTE rebels are deploying suicide bombers in the large numbers to slow down the Sri Lankan advance from overrunning them.
Though, estimates are not available, military sources say that between 500 to 1,000 hardcore black rebels have formed a last wall of defence around LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran and others.
The LTTE has built the earthen fortification to delay the Lankan troops. After the battle, bodies of three LTTE rebels killed during the confrontation were found.
Troops also found a huge cache of arms including assault rifles and radio communication sets.
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