Sri Lanka declares victory against Tamil Tigers

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared victory in his nation's civil war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. The announcement came after government forces seized control of the entire coastline for the first time in the 25-year conflict.

During a visit to Jordan, the Sri Lankan President said he would return to Sri Lanka as "a leader of a nation that vanquished terrorism".

Mahinda Rajapaksa said, "I am proud to announce at this august gathering, that my government, with the total commitment of our armed forces, has, in an unprecedented humanitarian operation, finally defeated the LTTE militarily. "

A triumph on the battlefield appeared inevitable after government forces captured the last bit of coastline under rebel control early on Saturday. Government troops surrounded the remaining fighters in a 3-square kilometer patch of land.

Many believe this means government troops have taken control of the entire north and east coastal lines for the first time in the nearly three-decade separatist war.

The only question remaining has been the fate of tens of thousands of people the UN and others say the Tigers are holding in harm's way as human shields.

The Red Cross has called the civilians' plight an "unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe," saying they lack food, water and medical care in the battle zone.

The United Nations estimates that 30 to 80-thousand people are trapped in the conflict area.

The military says some 11,800 people fled rebel areas on Saturday, bringing the total to more than 25-thousand since Thursday.

The same day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, was in Sri Lanka to make a last-ditch attempt for a peaceful conclusion.