Rebels admit leader's arrest, return to Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Tamil Tiger rebels have acknowledged their new leader has been arrested in Malaysia and handed over to the Sri Lankan military.

The group says in a statement Friday that Selvarasa Pathmanathan was captured near a hotel Wednesday by the Malaysian Royal Intelligence Corps.

Sri Lanka's military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara says Pathmanathan was brought to Sri Lanka and is being questioned.

Pathmanathan has been sought by Interpol for smuggling arms for the Tamil Tigers.

He took over as the rebel chief after the group's defeat in May and the death of its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Soon after Pathmanathan said the group would use nonviolent means to seek an independent state for the island's ethnic Tamil minority.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's military says it is interrogating the new leader of the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels after his capture in a foreign country.

Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara says Selvarasa Pathmanathan was arrested overseas and brought to Sri Lanka. He declined Friday to say where and when Pathmanathan was captured.

Pathmanathan has been sought by Interpol for smuggling arms for the Tamil Tigers.

He took over as the rebel chief after the group's defeat in May and the death of its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Soon after Pathmanathan said the group would use nonviolent means to seek an independent state for the island's ethnic Tamil minority.