19 L.T.T.E. cadres, one soldier killed in Lanka clashes: Army

Colombo, Sept 15 (PTI) At least 19 L.T.T.E. rebels and
one soldier were killed in running gun battles across the
restive Northern Sri Lanka, officials said Monday.

While four tiger rebels were gunned down in Vannerikulam
in Kilinochchi, three soldiers also suffered injuries during
the incident Sunday, the Defence Ministry said.

Later, Sunday morning troops attacked two more L.T.T.E.
bunkers located elsewhere in the same area and killed three
rebels besides injuring four others, the Defence Ministry
said.

At least three L.T.T.E. cadres were killed in two
separate battles in Andankulam in North-east Welioya.

As many as five militants were wounded in two separate
battles in the same area yesterday, the Media Centre for
National Security (M.C.N.S.) said, adding another four
suffered injuries during a confrontation in the same area last
evening.

At least three tiger militants were shot dead during
clashes at Thannimurippukulam area in Welioya Sunday, it
said.

Separately, one soldier lost his life in Andankulam area
last evening due to an I.E.D. explosion, the M.C.N.S. said.


In another confrontation, army troops confronted LTTE
cadres in the general areas of Navatkulam and north of
Palamoddai in Vavuniya.

At least six tiger cadres were killed during clashes with
the advancing troops in these areas Sunday, the army said.

As many as 12 soldiers who sustained injuries in
confrontations and I.E.D. (Improvised Explosive Devices)
explosions in Kilinochchi Sunday were admitted to hospital
for treatment.

Meanwhile, an official statement said there were reports
that the L.T.T.E. was preventing civilians from vacating the
rebel held areas.


"It is reported that the L.T.T.E. leadership has ordered
area leaders of the organisation to use their full strength to
prevent civilians from vacating the rebel-held area," it said.

"With the government mapping out safe corridors for
civilians held by the outfit to reach the cleared areas, there
has been a great positive response to arrive in the Government
control areas during the past few weeks," the statement quoted
defence sources as saying. PTI TVS