DATE=9/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA FIGHTING (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253792
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A fresh offensive by government troops in
Northern Sri Lanka has claimed more than 160 lives.
Vandana Chopra has the details from Colombo.
TEXT: Sri Lankan Defense Ministry officials say more
than 160 soldiers and Tamil tiger rebels were killed
as government troops tried to capture rebel controlled
areas in the Northern jungle
Region known as Wanni. The government also said in a
statement that a number of soldiers had been wounded
in a rebel mortar attack.
Government security officials say reinforcements have
been sent to replace the injured and casualty figures
are likely to increase.
Heavy fighting which began Sunday morning is the
fiercest between the rebels and the military in recent
months.
Military officials say troops moved ahead on two
fronts in northern Sri Lanka and destroyed a large
number of rebel bunkers before it came under attack
from the tiger guerillas.
Bodies of dead soldiers are being flown to Colombo
while the injured are being transferred to hospitals
in Colombo and the central town of Anuradhapura.
There has been no reaction from tiger separatists on
the latest round of
fighting.
The heavy fighting comes soon after two "days of
tranquility" in the war torn areas observed by both
sides for a polio immunization program.
Tiger rebels have been fighting for a separate
homeland for the minority Tamil community in Sri
Lanka's North and East since 1983.
The government says more than 50-thousand people have
died in the island nation's long drawn-out ethnic war
that has strained the government and economy. (signed)
NEB/VC/PLM
13-Sep-1999 05:57 AM EDT (13-Sep-1999 0957 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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