2 Sri Lankan rebels surrender to advancing troops

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Two Tamil Tiger officials surrendered to the Sri Lankan army on Wednesday, and refugees joined a stream of more than 80,000 people the government says have fled a war zone that appeared to shrink by the hour.

The sandy beaches north of the tiny combat zone – which now measures just 5 miles (8 kilometers) long – were filled with people carrying their belongings on their backs or in bundles on their heads, according to photos released by the military.

Mothers held infants and others carried sick relatives as they reached government territory in boats escorted by the navy.

In a sign that the rebel leadership has begun to feel the military pressure, the rebels’ former media spokesman Velayutham Dayanithi, whose “nom de guerre”, or war name is Daya Master, and an interpreter for group’s political wing, known only as George, turned themselves over to government forces Wednesday.

The two played prominent roles in talking to the media and visiting foreign diplomats in a now defunct peace process.

The former spokesman is the most senior rebel official to surrender so far, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said. The remaining rebels were still resisting the army’s advance, he said.

There were casualties among government troops, but Nanayakkara did not provide details.