33 Tamil Tigers killed in Sri Lanka: Army
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, March 21, IRNA - Fierce clashes between the Tamil Tigers and government troops, who are seeking to dislodge the rebels from its last stronghold in embattled northeastern Sri Lanka, killed at least 33 guerrillas.
A senior Sea Tiger leader was among the 33 LTTE rebels killed in clashes with the army advancing to seize the remaining rebel pockets as 1,200 displaced civilians crossed over into military-controlled areas in Mullaitivu district's Pudukudiyirippu, the officials said, Indian official media repoted.
They were killed near Pudukudiyirippu, where fierce battles between government troops and the rebels have been raging for several weeks, said military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara.
In subsequent search operations, the army recovered 5 bodies of LTTE fighters along with military items left behind by the fleeing militants, the defence ministry said.
Meanwhile, as many as 1,200 displaced Internally Displaced (IDPs) persons crossed over to the army-controled areas in Pudukudiyirippu on Friday, the military said.
Troops of the 55 Division recovered bodies of four Tamil Tiger rebels, including the body of 'Sindu', a senior 'Sea Tiger', it said.
This was subsequent to heavy confrontations that ensued with the LTTE on Friday in Pudukudiyirippu, Northern Mullaittivu battlefront, in which 28 Tamil Tiges were killed, the military said.
Advancing troops of 53 division captured a key 1.5 km stretch of A-35 Mullaittivu-Paranthan main road this morning after fierce clashes, the Lankan army said.
"Security forces are making steady progress with every conscious effort to ensure safety of civilians held hostage by LTTE and of those who are fleeing from the declared no Fire Zone, a military official said.
The official said the LTTE rebels are continuing with provocative artillery shelling and mortar fire form the No Fire Zone, the defence ministry said.
Meanwhile, the army suffered minor damages due to the explosion of an anti-personnel mine in Maradhamadhu area in Mannar Friday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), linked to the army, said.
Fighting, which has escalated in the past two years, further flared after the government in January 2008 pulled out of the 2002 cease-fire pact with the rebels.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for an independent state for the minority ethnic Tamils, alleging marginalisation of the community for decades by governments dominated by the Sinhalese.
Over 70,000 people have been killed in the civil war in the Island nation.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 406364
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