Relief ship docks at Jaffna

JAFFNA: A food relief ship flying the ICRC flag arrived in Jaffna yesterday carrying 1,500 tonnes of food.

Workers began unloading the food last afternoon. They will be distributed among the civilians in the coming days.

"The ship has arrived. It's expected to dock this morning and unloading will commence," said International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman Sukumar Rockwood. Pictures on pages 3 and 4

Meanwhile, five LTTEers were killed on Thursday evening in a clash with a military patrol in Batticaloa district. "Five LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) cadres were killed and their bodies recovered," said a Defence Ministry spokesman.