Velupillai Prabhakaran ( November 26; 1954 - May 19; 2009 was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (the LTTE or the Tamil Tigers); a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka. For over 25 years; the LTTE waged a violent secessionist campaign in Sri Lanka that led to it being designated a terrorist organization by 32 countries. Prabhakaran was wanted by Interpol for terrorism; murder; organized crime and terrorism conspiracy. On May 18; 2009; the Sri Lankan Government announced that Prabhakaran had been killed while trying to escape advancing Sri Lanka Army troops in the north of the country; a week later Tamil Tiger spokesman Selvarasa Pathmanathan; admitted that Prabhakaran had died on May 17; 2009.