More areas under security forces  
[Tuesday, January 16, 2007 - 8.30 GMT]
 
Two more areas, the Uppural and Ichchalampattu areas, within the larger Verugal area in the East, which the LTTE used for "human shield attacks", are now under security forces control. 

These two areas came under security forces control this morning (Tuesday 16), when the LTTE cadres who were holding them retreated following strikes on identified hostile targets by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said the LTTE had used the people of the Uppural and Ichchalampattu villages in the Verugal area as
human shields in their continued artillery and mortar attacks directed at the security forces. 

Around 9 am today attack aircraft of the SLAF had taken on identified LTTE targets in these areas, where a large number of LTTE cadres had been gathered, and from where attacks on security forces positions outside were directed. 

Following these air strikes the LTTE cadres had quickly retreated from the two areas. The SLAF was able to destroy three positions where mortar firing weapons were deployed, the MCNS said. 

One member of the security forces was killed and 15 injured from the artillery and mortar fire directed from these areas by the LTTE today, before the air strikes took place. There is no information yet about casualties from the air strikes that forced the LTTE cadres to retreat, enabling the security forces to take control of the Uppural and Ichchalampattu areas.

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Last Updated Date: January 16, 2007 - 8.30 GMT