The government says capturing Kilinochchi from rebels is ‘imminent’

The defence ministry said that helicopter gunships had bombed rebel positions, in Murikandy village south of Kilinochchi, in support of advancing ground troops.

The government said a few days ago that its forces were poised to capture Kilinochchi the base of the rebels' political headquarters.

However, the leader of the LTTE Velupillai Prabhakaran on Thursday said that the government is living in "dreamland" if it expects outright military victory.