DATE=11/3/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA BATTLES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255764
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Sri Lanka, Tamil tiger rebels have attacked
two strategically important towns in the country's
north. Both the government forces and the rebels are
reported to have suffered hundreds of casualties in
fierce fighting. Vandana Chopra has the details from
Colombo.
TEXT: Sri Lankan Defense Ministry officials say
hundreds of Tamil tiger rebels, mostly women, broke
through the government army's forward defense lines at
the important strategic town of Oddusuddan, 280
kilometers northeast of the capital, Colombo.
Military officials say the rebels attacked the army
complex from the southern and western sides before
taking control of the town and its surrounding areas.
Sri Lankan Army officials say reinforcements backed by
helicopter gunships were rushed to the area Tuesday
with the wounded being sent to nearby hospitals and
operations being carried out to locate missing
government soldiers.
Although the exact casualty figures are not known,
military officials describe them as heavy and say they
could run into the hundreds.
The Sri Lankan Army wrested control of Oddusuddan town
from the rebels last December and defense analysts
say, with the tiger rebels taking back control of the
town, it could be the army's worst setback in the past
year.
Meanwhile the tiger rebels issued a statement saying
hundreds of Sri Lankan troops have been killed and
several hundred injured in the attack.
Military officials say tiger rebels also laid siege to
Nedunkerni military complex, 10 kilometers south of
Oddusuddan town.
Political analysts say a major militay setback could
hurt Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's
hopes for re-election.
Tiger separatists have been fighting for a separate
homeland for the minority Tamil community in Sri
Lanka's North and East since 1983.
NEB/VC/PLM
03-Nov-1999 05:16 AM EDT (03-Nov-1999 1016 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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