Sri Lanka War news Updates -- January 8, 2009

Sri Lankan army soldiers load ammunition into a tank as they get ready to leave for the war front at Paranthan junction in Killinochchi area, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. Two days after the military seized the rebels' administrative capital of Kilinochchi, Sri Lankan forces pushed ahead Sunday with an offensive aimed at capturing the Tamil Tigers' last strongholds and crushing the rebel group. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan Military Presses Ahead With Offensive
-- Voice Of America

In Sri Lanka, the military says it has captured more territory formerly held by Tamil Tigers, as it moves toward the last stronghold of the rebels. The island country also witnessed a second attack on the media, this week, when the editor of a newspaper critical of the government was shot and killed by a gunman. The Sri Lankan government has vowed to end a long-running ethnic conflict by crushing the rebels.

Nearly a week after capturing the rebel headquarters, Kilinochchi, the military said Thursday that it has overrun another town, Pallai, held by the Tamil Tigers.

The military is trying to open a key pass which connects the northern Jaffna Peninsula to the rest of the country. It was taken by the rebels, eight years ago. The military is then expected to take on the rebels in the last major town they hold, Mullaittivu.

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More News On The Sri Lanka War

Army 'takes more Tiger territory' -- BBC
Sri Lankan troops continue advance on rebels -- CNN
Sri Lankan army says overruns Tiger town in Jaffna -- Reuters
Sri Lankan military captures rebel base in north -- AP
Anti-government editor shot dead in Sri Lanka -- Times Online
Sri Lanka Reinstates Ban on Tamil Rebels -- Voice of America
Sri Lanka Re-imposes Formal Ban on Tamil Tigers -- Agence France-Presse