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Security
forces yesterday continued to pound terrorist positions with the backing
of aircraft and gun boats, and successfully foiled a second attempt by the
Tigers for a beach landing killing more than 150 LTTE cadres. The heavy
fighting continued for two days, east of Pallai near Elephant Pass when
the security forces fiercely counter attacked against the Tigers who
attempted to infiltrate the strategic position. According
to Military spokesman Brigadier Palitha Fernando the number of terrorists
killed in action cannot be confirmed as search and clear operations were
still being conducted to flush out terrorists who had entered those areas.
However,
the Armed forces in Vathirayan have observed a large number of terrorist
bodies as heavy fighting continued in the area since Monday morning, Army
spokesman said yesterday. "Clearing
operations are in progress and terrorist casualties are believed to be
very large," he said. However,
the LTTE clandestine radio Voice of Tigers had revealed 16 names and had
stated that two of them were women fighters. According
local residents at least five civilians were killed and about 30 wounded
when they were trapped after the rebels launched the multi-pronged
assault. A Defence
Ministry communiqué said that the security forces withdrew from Manmunai
and the detachment there was pulled back as a tactical move to an
alternative position on the instructions of the Security Forces Commander.
Three
artillery guns at the Manmunai detachment were damaged due to heavy
terrorist fire and they were pulled back to the Palaly camp. "Troops
were able to completely destroy the tank used by the terrorists to attack
the detachment," Military spokesman said. Two
officers and fifty soldiers had been killed since the fighting broke out
early on Monday. Nine officers and ninety four soldiery had been wounded
in the confrontation. At
Vathirayan yesterday terrorists continued to attack a number of positions
simultaneously using a captured security force Medium Battle Tank (MBT)
which was later destroyed by the army in their massive counter attack
where terrorists suffered heavy losses. Meanwhile,
Air Force Kfir aircraft yesterday morning successfully attacked on LTTE
positions at Maruthankemi, Chempiyanpattu and Manmunai. Three
LTTE boats attempting to launch an attack at Chempiyanpattu were attacked
and destroyed by the Navy and the Air Force in their join attempt to
prevent terrorists from reaching the shores. The Army
and the Navy had also attacked an LTTE flotilla of seven boats in the
Kilaly lagoon and destroyed two boats. The rest of the boats withdrew
towards Pooneryn. An hour
later, boats carrying reinforcements made another abortive attempt to land
at Chempiyanpattu. They were forced to withdraw when security forces
pounded at their advances with heavy artillery fire. Fighting
continued in the general area East of Pallai as terrorists attacked troops
engaged in search and clear operations in the area. Troops were able to
secure the control over the Pallai area in Elephant Pass on the Jaffna
Kandy road which was earlier taken over by terrorist blocking military
traffic from Elephant Pass to Jaffna for more than six hours, Military
spokesman said. Hundreds
of heavily-armed soldiers are continuing search and clear operations in
Weddukadu in the general area of Pallai. Troops cleared most of the area
and there was no resistance from the LTTE, the Defence communiqué said. Anton
Balasingham, LTTE military advisor, was quoted as saying in a Tamil
newspaper that the group was skeptical about government peace and the
rebels would move to dislodge the army from Elephant Pass. However,
the government had long anticipated the rebel's intentions despite their
positive attitude they've shown for negotiations. "We
haven't forgotten their strategies in the past where they've taken every
government around in circles till they gain their ends. But this time the
government would not in any way budge to fulfill their demands,"
political sources said. Political
observers also stated that Tigers motives were evident from the beginning
when they were continuing to attack the people using bus bombs and suicide
attacks that they did not want any negotiations with the government to
reach a settlement.
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