Sri Lankan troops enter Tiger political HQ: official

January 2, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops fought their way into the centre of the Tamil Tiger political capital of Kilinochchi on Friday, an official at the president's office said.







There were no immediate details of casualties from Friday's fighting. There was also no immediate comment from the Tigers who used Kilinochchi as the capital of their de facto state.

The Tigers had their courts, police and main bank in the town.

Ground troops breached the defences of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at two locations in Kilinochchi and were moving to establish full control of the town, the official said.

"Troops entered the Kilinochchi town from two places this morning and heavy fighting is going on," the official said, declining to be named.

"They should be able to establish total control very soon.

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Military sources said the army had used a pincer movement to enter the town from the north and the south.

"The two columns should link up anytime soon," an army official said.

"Troops have already entered the Kilinochchi railway station in the centre of town.



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Railway lines in the area had been removed by the Tigers in the early 1990s, but t