The rebels replied that they considered the airport a military target because the government army had a major base just beside it.

The central government own army only numbered 7,000 troops.

It's generally uninhabited and at any rate doesn't have a garrison from either the rebels or the government army.

How many, Brig, will stand against us in the government army?

The same is true of the government army, he said.

Uduvil, during the 1980s & '90s, has felt a heavy presence of the government army.

In response the government army would brutalise civilians around the place of attack thus further alienating them.

Liu then took his troops north and became an anti-imperial government army.

It must be said, however, that the government army is no better.

He said there had never been any evidence of recruitment of children by the government army.