Tag Archives: lankan

Thousands of Civilians Escape as Sri Lanka Corners the Tamil Tigers

Sri Lankan military authorities predicted a swift end to the country’s 25-year civil war after tens of thousands of civilians who had been trapped in a narrow combat zone in the country’s north for over two months escaped the iron grip of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on April 20. But more fighting is in store before that end can be reached. It will take weeks, if not longer, to capture or kill the over 500 hardcore Tigers — including leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, who is holed up deep inside the zone — ready to fight to the death

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U.N. official: Sri Lanka ceasefire ‘inadequate’

The United Nations humanitarian chief Wednesday criticized a two-day pause in the fighting between the Sri Lankan army and Tamil Tiger rebels as "inadequate." John Holmes, the under secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, told reporters that the 48-hour break in hostilities was not sufficient, even as fighting resumed in the northeast of the country. The brief cessation of hostilities was announced by the Sri Lankan government on April 12 and allowed the U.N.

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Pakistan makes arrests in hunt for cricket team gunmen

Pakistani police made several arrests Wednesday as they continued to hunt for the gunmen responsible for an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team which left seven people dead. Authorities released photos of two suspects involved in the ambush on the visiting team’s convoy Tuesday as players and match officials made their way to Lahore’s cricket stadium, killing six police officers and a driver

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Lahore attack puts World Cup in doubt

The future of international cricket in Pakistan, including that country’s intention to host the 2011 World Cup, came under scrutiny after the Lahore attack on the Sri Lanka team that left six security personnel dead and eight players wounded. Pakistan, which is battling Islamist and Taliban insurgents in its North West Frontier Province, has struggled to attract visiting cricket teams in recent years because of security concerns

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Police hunt gunmen after attack on Sri Lankan cricket team

Police in Lahore have launched an intensive search for at least 12 gunmen believed to be responsible for Tuesday’s deadly attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team which left six security personnel dead and eight players hurt — including two with gunshot wounds. The Sri Lankan players were traveling by bus to the city’s Gaddafi Stadium for the third day of the second test match against Pakistan at around 9 a.m. local time (11 p.m

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Recent history of cricket and terrorism

The ambush by up to a dozen gunmen of a bus carrying members of the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore is the realization of fears long held by the sport’s leading players. The Sri Lankan team had agreed to tour Pakistan after India pulled out in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last November when more than 160 people died in a three-day siege.

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