Colombo (PTI): Advancing Sri Lankan troops on Friday captured the last stragetic town held by the LTTE in the Mullaitivu district, confining the Tamil Tigers to less than 100 sq km. of territory, even as concerns grew over the fate of hapless civilians caught in the shrinking war zone.

Troops captured Ampalavanpokkanai town after five hours of intense battle during which two senior LTTE commanders, Anbu and Suresh, were killed, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. The forces have now virtually encircled Puthukudiyyiruppu, the last town held by the Tigers, where reports say LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is leading the rebels.

Nanayakkara said the troops also seized diving equipments and underwater scooters and unearthed a three-storyed underground bunker south of Puthukudirippu in Mullaitivu, believed to be used by Prabhakaran.

This is the third big bunker seized by the Government forces after the fall of rebel strongholds -- Killinochi and Mullaittivu.

With the capture of these areas, the LTTE is confined to less than 100 sq km. of territory in northern Wanni. Meanwhile, aid agencies expressed concern over the fate of civilians and asked both the Government and the LTTE to allow people to leave the embattled northern region.

Related stories: