Heavy fighting kills 21 in Sri Lanka
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, April 11, IRNA
Lanka-Fighting-LTTE
At least 20 Tamil Tiger rebels and a government soldier were killed in fresh artillery and mortar exchange in Sri Lanka's northern Vavuniya district, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
The LTTE fired artillery and mortar shells on the Forward Defense Lines (FDLS) at Mullikulam area in the northern Vavuniya district last evening, killing at least one soldier and wounding four more, PTI reported quoting the ministry.
Government troops have retaliated the LTTE attack using mortar and artillery guns, the ministry said, adding that 20 LTTE cadre have been confirmed killed due to retaliatory firing.
Meanwhile, the pro-LTTE website Tamilnet said the rebels repulsed a fresh ground operation by the Sri Lankan army that attempted to move towards Paalamoddai, northwest of Vavuniya this morning.
Sri Lanka army troopers, on retreat, left behind their dead soldiers, arms and ammunition, including rocket propelled grenade launchers and light machine guns, LTTE military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan was quoted as saying by the Tamilnet.
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