Attacks Leave Tamil City Deserted

Tamil rebels fled their capital, joined by up to 20,000 civilians, as government forces stepped up air and artillery attacks on nearby towns Tuesday, the military and aid workers said.

Jaffna, once a city of 125,000 people that has been the center of Tamil culture for centuries, was left almost completely deserted, according to a relief worker who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It was unclear how many Tamil fighters were left in Jaffna.