17 Tamil Tigers killed in clashes with Sri Lankan navy
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Nov 23, IRNA
Sri Lanka-Navy-Sea Tigers Killed
At least 17 Tamil Tigers were killed in clashes with the Sri Lankan navy, which crushed a major seaborne Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attack in Mannar Island on Friday, the Navy said.
"Sri Lanka Navy sailors successfully crushed an LTTE attack at the Mannar Island when LTTE militants in six boats launched a seaborne attack targeting the Pesalai Police post in Mannar on Friday morning," PTI reported here quoting Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Commander D K P Dassanayake said.
Navy ground troops and sea units simultaneously engaged the LTTE boats damaging one LTTE boat, he said, adding that the latest report showed that 17 LTTE cadres were killed in this confrontation.
Tiger boats are now on retreat towards Vidattaltivu area (in northern Sri Lanka), the spokesperson said.
In a separate incident, the LTTE militants triggered off a claymore mine targeting army personnel who were conducting patrol at Varikuttoruwa in the Northern Vavuniya district on Friday morning, the army said.
According to defence sources, the explosion took place in the morning killing one soldier, it said.
A search operation is now being conducted in the area.
The LTTE has fought the government forces since 1983 to create an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
The Tamil Tigers are among the early users of suicide bombing to attack political, economic and military targets.
The rebels have carried out more than 240 suicide bombings.
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