41 killed in Lanka clashes: officials By T V Sriram

Colombo, Oct 13 (PTI) Sri Lankan Security Forces
destroyed four L.T.T.E. bunkers as they continued to lay siege
to the crucial Kilinochchi town and 35 Tamil Tigers and six
security personnel were killed in fierce clashes in the
northern region, the Army said Monday.

At least 12 L.T.T.E. rebels were killed in Vannerkulam
in western Kilinochchi battlefront after troops destroyed four
of their bunkers Sunday, the Defence Ministry said.

As many as eight of the tiger rebels were killed in
the area when troops forced into an L.T.T.E. bunker line
Sunday.

The other four militants were killed and 6 others
injured in a subsequent gunbattle, it said.

"Two soldiers also laid down their lives in the
confrontation," military sources said.

Meanwhile, troops gunned down 11 L.T.T.E. rebels in
fierce gunbattle that erupted in northeast of Akkarayanklulam
in Kilinochchi front, the military said.

According to the defence sources, the fighting that
commenced yesterday morning caused heavy damages to the
L.T.T.E.

By intercepting L.T.T.E. radio communication, the
damages inflicted to the rebel side were confirmed, the
ministry said.

"Two security forces personnel also made their utmost
sacrifice for defending the motherland while engaged with
L.T.T.E. insurgents," defence sources added.

Meanwhile, troops attacked L.T.T.E. bunker in Jaffna
and killed four Tamil Tigers in Muhamalai last afternoon, the
Media Centre for National Security (M.C.N.S.) said.

After the confrontation, 30 pieces of 7.62 mm
ammunition and 148 M.P.M.G. Ammunition were recovered by
troops.

At Nagarkovil in Jaffna, security forces lost two of
their personnel due to a L.T.T.E. mortar attack, the M.C.N.S.
said, adding that six soldiers were injured in the attack.

As many as four tiger militants were shot dead during
a confrontation in Otiyamalai in Mullaittivu in North-eastern
Welioya Sunday, the M.C.N.S. said.

In another incident, one tiger militant was killed and
another wounded by troops in Periyakulam area, it said adding
that one L.T.T.E. cadre was killed in clashes in Andankulam in
Welioya Sunday.

At least two tiger militants were fatally shot at
Thannimuruppukulam in the region Sunday.

During subsequent search operations, troops recovered
83 Anti-personnel mines and 8 I.E.D.s, it said. PTI TVS
RKM