21 Tamil Tigers, 3 soldiers killed in Lanka clashes

Colombo, Oct 4 (PTI) At least 21 Tamil Tigers and three
soldiers were killed in clashes as Sri Lankan fighter jets and combat troops continued their drive towards the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi in the north, the defence ministry said Saturday.

MI-24 Helicopter gunships strafed L.T.T.E. bunkers
situated 3.5 km North East of the Akkarayankulam dam in the
outskirts of Kilinochchi this morning, officials said.

The Air force spokesman said, the air operations were
carried out in support of the ground troops inching towards
the city, stated to be nerve centre of the tigers.

Sri Lankan and tiger rebels have been engaged in
prolonged battle in an around the area for the past couple of
months, with the island's President asserting that his troops
aimed to capture Kilinochchi.

Meanwhile, forces of the 57th Division operating in the
east of Kilinochchi front had several confrontations with
L.T.T.E. activists in Akkarakankulam and Murukkandi areas
Friday, the Defence Ministry said quoting sources on
battlefront.

Army snipers gunned down an L.T.T.E. activist in
Murukkandi Friday morning and two other cadres were killed in
Akkarankulam in the region.

In North-east Welioya, troops wounded three L.T.T.E.
cadres during a confrontation in Andankulam, the Media Centre
for National Security (M.C.N.S.) said adding three rebels were
killed in various other incident in the region later in the
day.

While one tiger rebel was killed in Ranabahupura in
Welioya, another was shot dead in Palamodei North in Vavuniya
Friday, the M.C.N.S. said.

Separately, security forces gunned down two L.T.T.E.
cadres in Palamodei north Friday evening, the military said
adding another tiger rebel was killed during confrontation in
Navatkulam area of Vavuniya later in the day.

However, as many as two L.T.T.E. cadres were also killed
during a confrontation in Vannerikulam in Kilinochchi
Friday, the M.C.N.S. said adding four L.T.T.E. cadres and one
soldier were killed in Pandiweddiukulam in the region.

In another incident at Pandiweddikulam, troops shot dead
four Tamil Tiger militants and injured six others and two
soldiers also lost their lives during another incident.

Meanwhile, Army troops recovered small arms, including 64
ammunition rounds and three hand grenades from the fleeing
L.T.T.E. cadres at Thuvarankulam in Vavuniya.

It said nine soldiers sustained injuries due to firing
and anti-personnel mine explosions carried out by L.T.T.E. on
the Welioya front Friday.

The same day, troops unearthed 135 anti-personnel mines
and destroyed eight I.E.Ds (Improvised Explosive Devices) in
the region.