Soldiers breach rebel stronghold

The army breached one of the last Tamil Tiger rebel fortifications Monday and freed thousands of trapped civilians, some fleeing through the neck-high water of a lagoon while bleeding or carrying wounded relatives.

The government warned the rebels they had 24 hours to surrender or face a final assault to end a crumbling 25-year insurgency that sought to create a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils on this South Asian island.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa went on Sri Lanka’s national television to say that soldiers helped more than 35,000 civilians leave the battle zone in what he called the “largest-ever hostage rescue mission in history.”

A pro-rebel Web site, meanwhile, said hundreds of civilians might have been killed in the “total chaos” that prevailed when soldiers entered the zone.

It was not possible to verify any of the reports because journalists are restricted in the war zone.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the civilians’ escape but remained deeply concerned about thousands still trapped and “the potential for large-scale casualties,” U.N. spokeswoman Marie Okabe said in New York.

Mexico City

Cuban-American envoy approved

Mexico has approved a Cuban-American with expertise in conflict management as the new U.S. ambassador, the Foreign Relations Department said Monday.

Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa told reporters Mexico approved the new U.S. ambassador several days ago, though she did not say who it was. Foreign Relations Department spokesman Victor Aviles later told the Associated Press it was Carlos Pascual.

Pascual was the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2000 to 2003 and also served as coordinator for reconstruction and stabilization at the U.S. State Department.

President Barack Obama’s administration has yet to formally announce its choice for ambassador to Mexico, which the Senate must approve.

From wire reports