Rajapaksa asks LTTE to surrender and free civilians

The military campaign against the Tamil Tigers was about to end, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Sunday and urged the rebel leadership to let free thousands of civilians and surrender to the security forces to avoid total annihilation.
Speaking to his party supporters at his tightly guarded Temple Trees residence, Rajapaksa said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), unable to face the military thrust, was now hiding in the no-fire-zone, holding thousands of innocent civilians as human shield.
"The only option available for the Tiger leadership is to lay down arms and surrender to our heroic troops if it wanted to save the lives of the remaining cadres," radio Shree FM quoted Rajapaksa as saying Sunday evening amid loud applause from his party loyalists.