Lankan forces kill seven LTTE in intense clashes By T V Sriram

Colombo, Nov 7 (PTI) At least seven L.T.T.E. cadres were
killed in fierce clashes in embattled northern Sri Lanka where
government helicopter gunships and fighter jets pounded rebel
bases to support the advancing ground troops, officials said
Friday.

Troops of the newly formed military formation, Task Force
3, advancing from northwest of Mankulam in Kilinochchi towards
A-9 main road dominating L.T.T.E. areas, confronted with tiger
rebels, causing heavy damage to the enemy Thursday, the
Defence Ministry said.

According to the sources, hours of fighting ensued in
general area Panikkankulam leaving scores of "terror cadres
killed: and many others injured, it said in a statement.

By intercepting terror communication, it is learnt that
many terror cadres have gone missing during the confrontation,
the ministry said.

In a subsequent search operation conducted in the area,
troops have found 7 bodies of L.T.T.E. cadres killed during
the intense battle, it said adding one G.P.M.G. (General
Purpose Machine Gun), five T-56 riffles and one T-81 riffle
were also found in the search operation.

Troops are continuing their march towards Mankulam with
effective military thrust on L.T.T.E., the military said.

Meanwhile, Air Force MI-24 helicopter gunships launched
air sorties targeting L.T.T.E. resistance point observed in
north of Nachchikuda Forward Defence Line (F.D.L.) in
Kilinochchi last evening, the air force said.

The rebel resistance point is located 1.2 Km north off
security forces' defence line in Nachchikuda, Air Force
spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.


Air sorties were launched around in support of ground
troops of Task Force 1 advancing along the A-32 road towards
Pooneryn, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets hit an
L.T.T.E. leaders' command center in Paranthan, Kilinochchi
Thursday, Nanayakkara said adding the target was engaged
accurately.

Suspected L.T.T.E. gunmen, meanwhile killed 2 Civil
security personnel and a policeman who were providing security
to paddy farmers at Kohilaela area, Ampitiya in the Eastern
Ampara District Friday, the defence ministry said.

The rebels hiding in distance opened indiscriminate gun
fire at the security personnel and fled the area, security
sources said. A Civil Security Force guard also received
injuries and was admitted to the Mahaoya Hospital, M.C.N.S.
sources said.

Police Special Task Force (S.T.F.) troopers are now
deployed in the area and on pursuit of the assailants, it
said.

Meanwhile, troops of the 59 Division uncovered 120
anti-personnel (AP) mines during separate clearance operations
conducted in general area Andankulam in Mullaittiuvu
Thursday.

L.T.T.E. cadres also suffered with considerable damages
during confrontations in Kotkallivilly, Sempankundu,
Vilakkavittakulam and Meniyanyakulam in Kilinochchi Thursday,
the Media Centre for National Security (M.C.N.S.) said.

"Sri Lankan Army troops also inflicted severe damages to
the L.T.T.E. in three different confrontations in
Akkarayankulam area between afternoon and evening yesterday,"
it said.

Several L.T.T.E. bunkers, some trenches and an earth bund
constructed in Vempathukerny and Nagarkovil in Jaffna were
attacked by the troops causing severe damages to the the tiger
rebels Thursday, the M.C.N.S. said. PTI TVS
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