Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry says it has cornered Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern Mullaittivu district on Friday (February 13) in a 142-square kilometres area.
It says its soldiers are launching final operations to capture the entire district. The military said at least 34,000 people this year have fled the war zone in the Indian Ocean island's north-east, where troops are battling to crush a 25-year-old civil war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.
Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped between troops and the LTTE, drawing international concern for their welfare. The United Nations is preparing for an exodus of 150,000 people.
