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Defector says LTTE killed civilians | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A former spokesman for Tamil Tiger rebels who surrendered to the Sri Lankan army has accused the rebels of shooting dead at least two-hundred civilians who were attempting to flee the war zone. Velayutham Dayanidhi, better known as Daya Master, said the rebels were holding civilians as hostages and forcibly recruiting children as young as thirteen years of age. He made these allegations in a video interview released by the Sri Lankan defence ministry. It is not clear whether the interview was conducted under duress. The United Nations has said there were credible reports that the rebels were preventing civilians from leaving the war zone and shooting at those who were attempting to flee. The army says Daya Master and George Master arrived at the army defence line at Puthumathalan a week ago along with family members. It says they were in "in the company of fleeing civilians". Sri Lankan military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said Daya Master was the most senior rebel official to surrender so far. | LOCAL LINKS  Sri Lankans 'are still suffering'Sandeshaya 'I thought, I won't survive'Sandeshaya Analysis: Stark end game for TigersSandeshaya Two key Tamil Tigers 'surrender' Sandeshaya Anticipating an end to warSandeshaya EXTERNAL LINKS The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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