Five injured in claymore attacks

Ranil Wijayapala

VAVUNIYA: Two sailors and three civilians including a Korean national were injured in LTTE claymore mine attacks in Vavuniya and Pesalai yesterday, Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.

Two sailors were injured in Pesalai in Mannar yesterday when LTTE triggered a claymore mine targeting a Navy water bowser around 11 a.m., the Brigadier added.

A civilian cab was also hit by another claymore mine yesterday around 12 noon in Mahakachchikuda area in Vavuniya injuring a South Korean businessman and two other civilians on board, he said.

Briefing the media on the current security situation yesterday, Brigadier Samarasinghe said 13 Security Forces personnel were killed and 25 injured in LTTE attacks from April 13 to date.

He said in facing the LTTE attacks the Security Forces had to take action to safeguard the civilians and public properties by conducting limited operations.

During these limited operations six claymore mines, seven hand grenades, two T-56 weapons, one remote control and detonators were recovered from April 13.

"The Security Forces had to face lot of constraints when conducting those operations to safeguard the lives of civilians," he added.

Brigadier Samarasinghe denied any Army involvement in the killing of five youth in Jaffna.

"The blame of the killing of youth cannot be put on the Army though the bodies were found near an Army camp. Lots of civilians are living around the Army camp," he added.