DATE=4/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247511
TITLE=LANKA/ATTACK REPORT (L)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AT LEAST 20 TAMIL TIGER REBELS WERE KILLED IN AN AMBUSH
IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH. VANDANA CHOPRA HAS THE DETAILS FROM
COLOMBO.
TEXT: SRI LANKAN MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY SECURITY FORCES ATTACKED
TAMIL TIGER REBELS AS THEY WERE MOVING TOWARDS ODDUSUDAN TOWN IN
THE NORTHERN JUNGLE REGION, WANNI.
THE DEFENSE MINISTRY STATEMENT DID NOT MENTION ANY MILITARY
CASUALTIES.
THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT FROM TAMIL TIGER GEURILLAS ON THE
LATEST ROUND OF FIGHTING.
MEANWHILE, SECURITY OFFICIALS SAY 263 TIGER SEPARATISTS
SURRENDERED TO THE SECURITY FORCES AFTER A MILITARY OPERATION.
TROOPS RE-CAPTURED 325 SQUARE KILOMETERS OF TERRITORY IN THE
NORTHWEST INCLUDING A CATHOLIC PILGRIM TOWN, WHICH HAD BEEN UNDER
REBEL CONTROL FOR NEARLY A DECADE.
THE TOWN OF MADHU WAS TAKEN EARLIER THIS MONTH SHORTLY AFTER THE
MILITARY CAPTURED SOME OTHER REBEL-HELD AREAS IN THE NORTH IN A
SURPRISE CAMPAIGN.
THE DEFENSE MINISTRY STATEMENT SAYS THE REBELS WERE RELEASED
AFTER THEIR NAMES AND OTHER DETAILS WERE RECORDED.
INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THE EVENTS IS NOT POSSIBLE AS
JOURNALISTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE WAR-TORN AREAS.
TAMIL TIGER REBELS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A SEPARATE HOMELAND FOR
THE MINORITY TAMILS IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST FOR NEARLY 16
YEARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/LTD/GE
01-Apr-99 8:56 AM EST (1356 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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