32 killed in Lanka clashes: army

Colombo, June 9 (PTI) - At least 31 L.T.T.E. cadre, including one woman, and a soldier were killed in fierce clashes across Sri Lanka's restive north, the military said here Sunday. At least two L.T.T.E. cadres were killed in encounters in North-west Mannar Saturday, the Defence Ministry said. A soldier was also reported wounded due to an L.T.T.E. small arms fire attack in general area of Paleipperumalkaddu in Mannar. During confrontations in the general areas of Nagarkovil and Muhamale in Jaffna, troops killed one rebel and injured five others yesterday, the army said. It said one bunker was completely destroyed by the troops and that two soldiers were injured and admitted to hospital for treatment. "According to reports received, L.T.T.E. has suffered heavy losses alone at the Vavuniya battlefront as troops claimed to have killed 17 tiger rebels while injuring 6 others Saturday," the ministry said in a statement. This included eight L.T.T.E. cadre who were killed during confrontations in Navathkulam, Periyamadu, Chettiyakulam, Nandakandal and Periyapalimollaithottu in Vavuniya. Troops in the search operations conducted after the incident in the Periyamadu area found the body of a female L.T.T.E. cadre and some ammunitions, the army the Media Centre for National Security (M.C.N.S.) said. According to reports received, a soldier also laid his life and another 21 wounded in the clashes in the north, the Defence Ministry said. PTI