Troops repulse LTTE attacks

Rafik JALALDEEN

BATTICALOA: Over 10 LTTE cadres were killed and many injured in confrontations with the Security Forces in two separate attacks last morning in Sithandi and Trincomalee, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.

According to a spokesman for MCNS, LTTE cadres fired with small arms at the Army checkpoint near the fisheries boatyard in Sandiweli, Siththandi early yesterday.

While the troops retaliated the attack, the LTTE cadres fired artillery and mortars in a counter attack. "The fight lasted for three hours and the troops repulsed the attack successfully," he added.

He said LTTE communications intercepted by Security Forces have confirmed around nine LTTE deaths. Twelve cadres have been injured.

"The LTTE cadres ignored the civilians and targeted a boatyard where fishermen gather. The jetty had been damaged by the LTTE," he added.

Meanwhile, a body of an LTTE cadre and a haul of weapons were recovered by the Security Forces in a confrontation with Tigers yesterday morning in Trincomalee. A large number of LTTE cadres were killed and injured in this attack.

Most bodies of Tigers and the injured were transferred by their fellow cadres.

The MCNS spokesman said the Security Forces observed that some LTTE cadres were crossing from the South of Trincomalee towards the North.

The Security Forces retaliated the attack successfully. "We believe that some LTTE cadres fleeing Vakarai were also engaged in this confrontation," he added.

The troops also recovered two T-56 riffles, an RPG bomb, two tents and several uniforms in a subsequent search operation.