Prabhakaran hiding in NFZ with top commanders: Lanka army

Colombo, May 4 : As the government mulls a general amnesty to the surrendering Tamil Tigers, the Lankan army expressed confidence that it would get Velupillai Prabhakaran, saying the LTTE supremo was hiding in the 'No-Fire-Zone' along with his top commanders.

Prabhakaran and other top LTTE leaders are hiding in the 'No-Fire-Zone', the army said, adding it had killed 55 rebels in intense clashes as the military pushed deeper into remaining rebel-held territory.

The security forces are hopeful the LTTE leader and his top cadres can be targeted without much difficulty in the coming days, according to an army official of the 58th Division.

According to another top defence official, there is reliable information that the LTTE leader and his group are still there in the NFZ.

It will be impossible for the "terrorist" leader (Prabhakaran) to escape in the guise of a civilian or as a patient, the official underlined. He said the remaining LTTE rebels had only two options either to surrender to the security forces or face death. Prabhakaran has vowed never to be caught alive by the Lankan security forces.

"Troops continued to consolidate their positions and countered heavy LTTE resistance during their advance further towards the area where Tamil Tiger leaders are confirmed to be hiding in the 'No Fire Zone' (NFZ)," the army said. PTI