Tamil Tiger leader 'has not fled'
 Velupillai Prabhakaran "is with our people", the rebels say |
The top leader of the Tamil Tigers has not left Sri Lanka and is still leading the "freedom struggle", the rebels' political leader has said.
B Nadesan told the BBC by telephone that reports Velupillai Prabhakaran had fled were "malicious propaganda". He promised the rebels would fight on.
Fears for civilians are growing - the UN says dozens are dead or injured.
Sri Lanka's army has pushed the rebels from their strongholds. Mullaitivu, their last major base, fell on Sunday.
There is no way of confirming claims from either side in the conflict zone as independent journalists are barred.
'Liberation war'
Speaking exclusively to the BBC Sinhala service, Mr Nadesan rejected claims Mr Prabhakaran had fled.
"It is malicious propaganda - our leader is still with us - our leader is giving leadership to our freedom struggle. He is with our people," he said.
 | INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east 1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 1990 1993: President Premadasa killed by Tiger bomb 2001: Attack on airport destroys half Sri Lankan Airlines fleet 2002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire 2005: Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes president 2006: Heavy fighting resumes 2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu  |
Mr Nadesan also said the Tigers would not lay down arms until the freedom and dignity of their people were guaranteed.
He shrugged off recent military setbacks which have seen the loss of the key bases of Kilinochchi, Elephant Pass and Mullaitivu.
He said: "In a liberation war it is normal for a force to lose territory and regain the same and achieve freedom. In the past we have withdrawn many times and bounced back to achieve big victories."
When asked why the rebels would not lay down their arms and talk to the government, Mr Nadesan said: "We took up arms to safeguard our people. We need a guarantee of living with freedom and dignity and sovereignty... until that, we will not come to that point."
Mr Nadesan also accused the army of shelling civilians in areas the government had designated safe zones.
Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara told the BBC the army had no need to fire at civilian areas.
Brig Nanayakkara said the rebels were firing from the safe zone "but we don't engage them".
'Crisis'
The district director of health for Kilinochchi region, T Satyamurthy, also spoke to the BBC and said that between 1 and 25 January, 145 civilians had died due to the conflict in the region and more than 650 had been admitted to hospitals.
Government-released footage of the fighting around Mullaitivu
Dr Satyamurthy, the most senior government health official in the district, said that on Monday 27 civilians had been killed and 76 wounded when about 1,000 shells fell on the Udayarkatta and Nattangandal hospital complex in Mullaitivu district.
Dr Satyamurthy said the shelling came from the south "where the SLA [Sri Lankan army] is camping".
"We don't have any staff or medicine - security is a major problem, so we can't work properly," Dr Satyamurthy said.
Brig Nanayakkara insisted the army had "no connection whatsoever with these civilian deaths".
I wish the world knew more on the basics of the conflict, rather than knowing what happened yesterday or today
He said all government officials in the region were "making statements under the pressure from terrorists. I can clearly say that they are making these statements to save their lives".
The UN has also expressed concerns about civilian deaths, saying dozens had been killed.
Resident coordinator Neil Buhne told the Associated Press news agency the situation was desperate.
"There have been many civilians killed over the last two days. It's really a crisis now."
There are thought to be about 250,000 civilians in the area in which the rebels are still operating.
The army took Mullaitivu town - the last major Tiger base - on Sunday.
The military says it is now advancing into the 300 sq km (115 sq mile) triangle of land in which the Tamil Tigers are still operating.
Mr Nadesan said the rebels hold twice that area.
The government has vowed to crush the rebels, who have been fighting for a separate homeland for Tamils for 25 years. At least 70,000 people have been killed during the insurgency.
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