DATE=10/1/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239521
TITLE=LANKAN FIGHTING / L
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SRI LANKA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS LOSS OF KILINOCHCHI --
SOUTH OF THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA -- TO TIGER GUERRILLAS IS
THE ARMY'S BIGGEST SETBACK IN TWO YEARS. VANDANA CHOPRA REPORTS
HAS THE DETAILS FROM COLOMBO.
TEXT: THE DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON SAYS TROOPS ARE HOLDING
FRESH DEFENSIVE POSITIONS AFTER THE FIERCE ATTACK BY TIGER
REBELS.
HEAVY FIGHTING WAS REPORTED AROUND PARANTHAN AND KILINOCHCHI --
SOUTH OF THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA -- AFTER TAMIL TIGERS
LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON ARMY POSITIONS, EARLY SUNDAY. THIS WAS THE
FIRST MAJOR CLASH IN SEVERAL WEEKS.
MEANWHILE, DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY LOSS OF KILINOCHCI BY
SECURITY FORCES WAS MADE UP WITH THEIR CAPTURE OF THE NORTHERN
TOWN, MANKULAM -- THE LAST MAJOR REBEL HELD TOWN ON THE KEY
HIGHWAY.
THE DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON SAYS CAPTURING MANKULAM IS
STRATEGICALLY MORE IMPORTANT TO THE MILITARY.
MANKULAM IS LOCATED ON AT AN IMPORTANT ROAD JUNCTION LEADING FROM
THE EAST TO MULLAITIVU -- THE TIGER STRONGHOLD -- AND TO THE
NORTH TO JAFFNA.
GOVERNMENT TROOPS ARE CONSOLIDATING THEIR POSITIONS IN THE
NEWLY-CAPTURED AREAS.
THE RED CROSS HAS HANDED OVER 600 BODIES OF SOLDIERS KILLED IN
FIGHTING IN KILINOCHCHI TO THE MILITARY.
THE DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON SAYS MORE THAN 400 BODIES OF
SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
JOURNALISTS ARE BARRED FROM THE WAR ZONE AND ARE UNABLE TO
INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRM THE BATTLEFIELD ACCOUNTS RELEASED BY THE
GOVERNMENT AND REBELS.
THE TIGER GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN WAGING A WAR FOR A SEPARATE
HOMELAND FOR SRI LANKA'S MINORITY TAMIL COMMUNITY SINCE 1983.
(SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
01-Oct-98 6:51 AM EDT (1051 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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