11 Tigers killed, troops moving closer to rebel stronghold

T V Sriram


Colombo, Nov 11 (PTI) Fierce battles raged near the Tamil
Tiger stronghold of Kilinochchi in conflict-ravaged northern
Sri Lanka, killing at least 11 guerrillas, as troops captured
a key town west of the rebel 'capital', the military said
Tuesday.

The security forces also advanced into the eastern part
of Kilinochchi, overcoming stiff resistance from the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.) fighters.

Troops of task force one operating in the western half of
Kilinochchi front wrested an L.T.T.E. "strong point" -- the
town of Palavi, the Defence Ministry said.

Dominating Palavi is strategically vital as this will cut
off the L.T.T.E's main access route running parallel to the
western coastal border from Veravil to Chempankundu, it said
adding, troops are now consolidating defences in the area.

Troops stepped up their march towards the rebel
stronghold despite strong L.T.T.E. resistance, the Ministry
said. Heavy fighting has been reported since Monday morning in
areas located west and east of the main road near Kilinochchi.

Security forces handed over bodies of seven L.T.T.E.
rebels killed in the latest fighting to the Red Cross
officials in Vavuniya Monday.

Citing intercepted L.T.T.E. communication, defence
sources also claimed that scores of Tiger rebels have been
injured in the clashes. Snipers deployed in forward defences
in Palayilkulam have acquired their targets in four separate
occasions during day-time Monday, the army said.

In the eastern Kilinochchi battlefront, heavy fighting
has been reported between troops and the L.T.T.E. as military
advances continued in north of Akkarayankulam area.

Troops of 57 Division operating in the front launched
offensive thrust against the rebels dominating more
L.T.T.E.-held areas, the military said adding, during search
operations in Akkarayankulam, the body of a slain L.T.T.E. man
was found along with a T-56 rifle.

Meanwhile, at Mullaittivu, troops, after pitched battles
in Terumurikandal area, found bodies of four female Tiger
rebels Tuesday, it said.

In other incidents of violence, suspected L.T.T.E. rebels
shot dead two of their former colleagues, now belonging to the
breakaway T.M.V.P., in eastern Batticaloa Monday night, the
armym said.

In Vavuniya, a woman carrying a bag with nearly 3.5 kg of
explosives was nabbed at the Omanthai entry-exit point that
divides L.T.T.E.-controlled area from the rest of the country.

The L.T.T.E. has been fighting since 1983 to create a
homeland for ethnic minority Tamils in Sinhalese-majority Sri
Lanka. Over 70,000 people have died due to the conflict so
far.

Fighting has intensified in the Tamil-dominated northern
areas since the government pulled out of a 2002
Norwegian-brokered truce in January this year.

The rebels had earlier this week expressed their
readiness to re-enter the truce, but the government has
rejected the offer. PTI T.V.S.
RKM