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prabhakaran alive, prabhakaran not dead, prabhakaran still alive, prabhakaran is alive, is prabhakaran alive

COLOMBO: A pro-LTTE website on Tuesday claimed that the Tamil Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran is still "alive and safe", a day after Sri
Lankan army announced that it has killed the top rebel leader.

"I wish to inform the Global Tamil community distressed witnessing the final events of the war that our beloved leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is alive and safe," LTTE's International Relations head S Pathmanathan was quoted as saying by the website, which usually puts out the rebels' version on the battle with the Sri Lankan armed forces.

"He (Prabhakaran) will continue to lead the quest for dignity and freedom for the Tamil people," he said.

The website, however, did not give the details of Prabhakaran's location.

The army had claimed Prabhakaran and his top aides came out of their last hiding place in a small convoy of van and an ambulance and tried to drive out of the war zone, but were gunned down.

Pathmanathan said the Sri Lankan army and government deliberately came up with the story detailing the demise of the leader of the LTTE.

"We categorically reject this and wish to inform the Tamil community to be vigilant and to exercise maximum restraint whilst grieving for the loss of Tamil civilian lives in the barbaric conduct of the final chapters of this battle," he said.

As Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakasa declared victory over the LTTE after a nearly three decade long civil war, the reports came that almost mythical LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran has either been killed or has committed suicide.

The reports of Prabhakaran's death gained ground as rebel websites declared the LTTE's surrender after the Sri Lankan army captured the last remaining coastline under rebel control, and rescued all civilians from the war zone.

According to Tamil.net, an LTTE spokesman S Pathmanathan said the group has decided to "silence its guns" in order to protect Tamil civilians left in the area and appealed to the government to hold fire and enter peace talks.

But President Rajapaksa who was earlier meant to address the country on Sunday has now postponed his speech to Tuesday. That is perhaps an indication that the government is not fully confident of the reports of Prabhakaran's death in the absence of concrete proof.

In fact, the army says fierce fighting against the LTTE continues at close quarters, in the last square kilometer left.

Now that all civilians have crossed over to the government-controlled area, the Tamil Tigers have no option but to fight to the last bullet and to the last man. How long will the fight last , 12 hours, may be 24 hours, no one knows but it surely is in the very last stage