LTTE had abducted 16 children from an orphanage run by the Catholic Church at Dahrmapuram in Kilinochchi on Friday (Dec 26), church sources said.

According to Defence sources civilians who were living close to the orphanage had said the LTTE abducted the children to be trained as child soldiers and suicide bombers.

"LTTE cadres beat up the two priests in charge of the orphanage when they refused to give away the children" said the Defence Ministry website quoting an eye witness.

According to the defence sources, the LTTE had stormed into the orphanage on Boxing Day (December 26) and demanded the two priests in charge of the place to give them all children above 12 years of age.

The orphanage was initially located at Kilinochchi but recently moved to Dharmapuram due to growing LTTE threats.

Meanwhile an LTTE cadre blew himself up near St Anne's Church, Wattla last morning (December 28). Eight people were killed and 17 others were wounded in the attack. Seven Civil Defence Force personnel and a civilian were among those killed in the bomb blast.

St. Anne's Church, Wattala is an important shrine of the Roman Catholic Church, and a centre for Catholic pilgrims. An explosion near this Church on a Sunday morning, just after Christmas, would have caused harm and injury to Catholics who gather in large numbers in this locality.