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DATE=9/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239469
TITLE=SRI LANKA / BODIES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  TAMIL REBELS IN SRI LANKA HAVE HANDED OVER THE BODIES OF 
600 GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED
CROSS.  THE SOLDIERS DIED IN THE WORST ROUND OF FIGHTING BETWEEN 
TAMIL REBELS AND THE SRI LANKAN MILITARY IN AT LEAST A YEAR.  
CASUALTY REPORETS FROM BOTH SIDES INDICATE MORE THAN 850 
GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS AND 400 REBELS HAVE DIED IN RECENT DAYS.  
ANJANA PASRICHA HAS MORE ON THE STORY FROM NEW DELHI.
TEXT:  A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RED CROSS IN COLOMBO, HARSHA 
GUNAWARDENE, SAYS MEMBERS OF THE LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM
HANDED OVER THE BODIES WEDNESDAY AT MALAVI, 40 KILOMETERS 
SOUTHWEST OF KILLINOCHCHI.
THE SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN A MASSIVE BATTLE THAT BEGAN SUNDAY, 
WHEN TAMIL GUERRILLAS STORMED KILLINOCHCHI, A STRATEGIC TOWN ON 
THE MAIN HIGHWAY LEADING TO SRI LANKA'S NORTHERN JAFFNA 
PENINSULA.
TUESDAY NIGHT, THE DEFENSE MINISTRY SAID 262 SOLIDERS DIED IN THE
BATTLE.  THE EVIDENCE NOW IN FROM THE RED CROSS SHOWS THE TOLL 
WAS MUCH HEAVIER -- APPARENTLY THE HEAVIEST CASUALTIES SUFFERED 
BY GOVERNMENT FORCES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
THE TAMIL TIGERS SAY THEY LOST 240 FIGHTERS IN THE BATTLE.  THE 
GOVERNMENT SAYS MORE THAN 400 REBELS WERE KILLED DURING THE PAST 
THREE DAYS.
THE TAMIL TIGERS SAY THEY HAVE RECAPTURED KILLINOCHCI, AS WELL AS
THE TOWN OF PARANTHAN, FURTHER NORTH, AND ARE IN CONTROL OF 
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE AREA. 
HOWEVER, THE DEFENSE MINISTRY IN COLOMBO SAYS THE BATTLE IN THE 
NORTH IS STILL UNDERWAY, AND GOVERNMENT FORCES CONTINUE TO HOLD 
SOME TERRITORY IN KILLINOCHCHI.
// OPT //  DEFENSE OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THEY HAVE CAPTURED THE 
FORMERLY REBEL-HELD TOWN OF MANKULAM, ABOUT 35 KILOMETERSSOUTH OF
KILLINOCHCHI.  // END OPT //
NO  INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THE TWO SIDES' BATTLEFIELD 
REPORTS IS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE REPORTERS ARE BARRED FROM THE WAR 
ZONE.  THE AUTHORITIES IN COLOMBO ALSO HAVE IMPOSED CENSORSHIP ON
WAR REPORTING.
THIS LATEST FIGHTING ERUPTED AFTER WEEKS OF LITTLE REPORTED 
ACTION ON THE NORTHERN WARFRONT. 
SRI LANKA'S TAMIL REBELS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A SEPARATE 
HOMELAND IN THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE COUNTRY. THE TAMIL TIGERS 
SAY THEIR PEOPLE SUFFER DISCRIMINATION AT THE HANDS OF THE 
COUNTRY'S SINHALESE MAJORITY.
WELL OVER 50-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED DURING SRI LANKA'S 15-YEAR
ETHNIC CONFLICT.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/AP/WTW
30-Sep-98 7:52 AM EDT (1152 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.