LTTE cadres surrender in their number

COLOMBO:A large number of child soldiers and LTTE cadres are deserting their leaders as a result of defeats suffered by the Tigers in the battle with the Security Forces in the North and East.

Following the Government?s call on Sunday for child soldiers and LTTE cadres to surrender at the nearest police station or security detachment, there had been a steady flow of Tiger combatants particularly from Trincomalee, Welikanda and Valaichenai who had given themselves up to the Forces, spokesman for the Media Centre for National Security Major Upul Rajapaksa said.

?Even today many LTTE cadres surrendered in different areas in the North and East. Due to security reasons we are unable to give the figures of the surrenders,? he told the Daily News.

?Some of those who surrendered have been brought to Colombo for rehabilitation,? Rajapaksa added.

Meanwhile in another incident, a group of LTTE cadres attempted to abduct a 14-year-old boy in Batticaloa.

The boy?s father was assaulted by the terrorists when he refused to hand over the teenager to the LTTE, Major Rajapaksa said.

The teen?s father who was beaten by the LTTE, lodged a complaint at the Sittandi army camp, he added.