83 killed in Sri Lanka clashes
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Sept 2, IRNA
SLanka-LTTE-Clashes
At least 81 Tamil Tigers and two army personnel were killed in fierce fighting in Sri Lanka's restive northern areas as troops gained control of several LTTE outposts in the rebel stronghold of Mullaittivuamidst bombardment by Air Force fighter jets.
The jets carried out two air strikes targeting LTTE forward defenses in Nachchikudha area in the north, Indian official media reported quoting Sri Lankan Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara.
Troops of the Army's 59 division operating on the Mullaittivu eastern front continued to dislodge the rebel defense in the jungles, the Defense Ministry said adding, 15 LTTE rebels were killed and 13 others injured in fighting.
The Special Task Force personnel clashed with the rebels in Vavuniya front, it said.
Eighteen Tigers were killed and 21 others were wounded, the ministry said.
While seven LTTE cadres were killed in Vannariklam in the rebel stronghold of Killinochchi, ten armymen were injured in the clashes on Sunday, the government's Media Center for National Security (MCNS) said.
One soldier was killed and six others were injured during mine- sweeping operations in the region as the security forces removed 51 anti-personnel mines and an improvised explosive device, officials said.
"Infantry, armour and artillery formations of the Army's 57 division have overrun LTTE forward defenses and reportedly entered into general area of Mallavi in the rebel stronghold of Mullaittivu district, following fierce fighting since Sunday," the ministry said.
According to the military, troops have gained control over key LTTE outposts in the area despite heavy resistance and are advancing for capturing the town.
Mallavi is a strategically important LTTE garrison town located along the Vellankulama-Mankulama main road, linking the Mannar- Pooneryn main road and Kandy-Jaffna trunk road.
Due its significant location, this area has been used as the hub of LTTE's administrative and logistic activities, accommodating dozens of LTTE offices, defence experts say.
Initial reports from Wanni said the troops are using heavy artillery and increasing the forward thrust into the Mallavi town.
The military said in another incident, troops captured a LTTE bunker line in the Palamodei North area, killing ten Tiger rebels on Sunday.
One soldier was also killed.
One Tiger rebel was also killed in Kilaly in Jaffna.
Security forces said they recovered bodies of ten LTTE cadres besides a haul of military equipment in the aftermath of a clash in Padaviya bordering the eastern Trincomalee district on Saturday.
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