'Several LTTE militants feared killed in Killinochchi attack' T V Sriram

Colombo, Oct 18 (PTI) - Fierce clashes between Sri Lanakan
security forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(L.T.T.E.) militants in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi
has left many Tamil tiger rebels dead as the army made further
inroads into the island nation's embattled north, officials
said Saturday.

"A large number of L.T.T.E. terrorists were reported
killed and injured by troops during the heavy fighting
throughout Friday in Nedunkandal West, South east and east
areas of Akkarayankulam, Vannarikulam and Pallawarayankadu,"
the defence ministry said.

Two bodies of L.T.T.E. cadres, Five T56 assault rifles
and some ammunitions were recovered by troops from the area in
a search operation conducted by troops after the
confrontations, it said.

Two soldiers were reported wounded in an Anti-Personnel
mine explosion and another soldier killed and two others
injured in an incident of mortar fire by L.T.T.E. militants in
the same area Friday, it said.

The Kilinochchi battlefront has been intensely active
since Saturday morning as troops of 57 Division have cleared
the L.T.T.E. built earth bund from both east and the west of
Akkarayankulam, battlefield sources said.

According to the sources, troops have run at the L.T.T.E.
defence kept along the earth bund and entered into the
remaining L.T.T.E. hiding areas in the area north of
Akkarayankualm tank.

Meanwhile, troops of Task Force 1 operating in the South
of Nachchikudha in Kilinochchi have commenced their offensive
march towards north early Saturday morning, the army said.

"Simultaneously, their fellow troops are continuing to
maintain the southward thrust from Pallawarayankaddu south,"
the army said, adding Task Force 1 soldiers have cut off all
land access routes available for the L.T.T.E. militants in
their Nachchikudha stronghold.

The sources said that troops manning the blockades in
Nachhcikudaha have thwarted two L.T.T.E. reinforcement
attempts Saturday morning.

In an incident, troops early this morning attacked a
group consisting about 25 L.T.T.E. cadres in the north of
Pallawarayankaddu area and caused heavy damages to them, the
sources said.

In the other incident, troops attacked a group of
tiger rebels travelling on a canter vehicle in the Madam area
in the region.

Meanwhile, intercepted radio transmissions revealed
that L.T.T.E. leader Bhanu has abandoned his position on the
western half of the Kilinochchi front, the defence ministry
said.

According to the sources Bhanu was in charge of the
L.T.T.E. defence against the Task Force 1.

At Mullaittivu, the security forces captured three
trenches used by the L.T.T.E. in the Andankulam area Friday,
the Media Centre for National Security said.

As many as 115 Anti- Personnel Mines and military
hardware were recovered by Troops in the search operation
conducted after the attack, it said.

Meanwhile, one soldier who was injured in an L.T.T.E.
attack in Yala in southern Sri Lanka Friday succumbed to his
injuries later in the day in a hospital, the M.C.N.S. said.
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