Sri Lanka leader hails 'victory'

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President Rajapaksa told parliament: 'Let us all be united'

Sri Lankan leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared the country "liberated" from Tamil Tiger rebels after a 26-year war.

Mr Rajapaksa made the announcement in a speech to the country's parliament, a day after the army said rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had been killed.

Sri Lankan television stations broadcast footage of a body purported to be that of Prabhakaran.

Tamil media outside Sri Lanka have denied the army's claims that the Tiger chief is dead.

Sri Lankan television showed a body purported to be that of Prabhakaran

After a day of feverish speculation over Prabhakaran's fate, Sri Lankan army chief Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka announced on state television that his body had been found.

"A few hours ago, the body of terrorist leader Prabhakaran, who ruined this country, was found on the battleground," he said, adding that it had been positively identified using DNA testing.

Television pictures showed Sri Lankan troops standing over a bloated, uniformed corpse, whose face closely resembled that of the rebel leader.

The forehead had been covered with a cloth, but the face was exposed, its eyes and mouth open.

The footage also showed a copy of a military ID tag written in Tamil, bearing the number "0:01", and what appeared to be a Tamil Tiger identity card bearing Prabhakaran's photograph.

'Liberation'

VELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN Born November, 1954 1972: Founded Tamil New Tigers (TNT), forerunner of LTTE Reputation as fearless and ruthless leader Pioneered use of suicide bombings in guerilla warfare Wanted in Sri Lanka and India Tamil doubts over death Obituary: Velupillai Prabhakaran Winning the peace Joy and wariness in Sri Lanka

Earlier, in a nationally televised live address, President Rajapaksa hailed "a day which is very, very significant - not only to us Sri Lankans but to the entire world".

"Today we have been able to liberate the entire country from the clutches of terrorism," he said. "We have been able to defeat one of the most heinous terrorist groups in the world."

As he walked into parliament, schoolgirls sang an ancient song of praise, while lawmakers held up the national flag.

After speaking in his native Sinhala, President Rajapaksa switched to the language of the Tamil minority, saying ethnic and religious divisions should end.

"We must find a homegrown solution to this conflict. That solution should be acceptable to all the communities."

Denial

On Monday the army said it had killed Prabhakaran after over-running the last patch of territory held by the Tamil Tiger rebels (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE).

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It said Prabhakaran, who founded and had led the LTTE since the mid-1970s, was shot dead with two senior deputies as they tried to escape.

There were scenes of jubilation across the country as reports of Prabhakaran's death spread.

Drivers and motorcyclists sounded their horns, while others waved flags and set off firecrackers.

"We are happy today to see the end of that ruthless terrorist organisation and its heartless leader. We can live in peace after this," said Sinhalese businessman Lal Hettige.

SRI LANKA CONFLICT TIMELINE 1976 - LTTE formed 1983 - First attacks by Tamil Tiger rebels; start of 'First Eelam War' Feb 2002 - Government and rebels sign ceasefire 2004 - 2008 - Violence mounts Jan 2008 - Government pulls out of ceasefire agreement Jan 2009 - Government captures Tigers' Kilinochchi headquarters May 2009 - Government declares victory against Tigers In pictures: Sri Lanka victorious Media react to 'victory'

However, the website TamilNet quoted LTTE diplomatic head Selvarajah Pathmanathan as saying Prabhakaran was still alive.

"I wish to inform the global Tamil community distressed witnessing the final events of the war that our beloved leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran is alive and safe," he said.

Neither sides' claims have been independently verified because reporters are not allowed into the former conflict zone.

The Tigers had been fighting for a separate state for Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka since the 1970s.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict and thousands displaced.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply troubled" by civilian deaths and that he would visit Sri Lanka on Friday to assess the situation.