LTTE steps up offensive

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, OCT. 2. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has intensified its military operations in the Jaffna peninsula ahead of the October 10 general elections.

Since last Saturday, the Tigers, who first tried to break through defences at Nagarkovil in southeastern Jaffna, have been directing heavy artillery at Palaly camp, from the Kalmunai point across the Jaffna lagoon.

Military sources confirmed that shells had fallen within the high-security zone of the camp, but said the airfield remained unscathed. However, supply flights to and from the Jaffna peninsula have been stopped.

The main logistic link for the security forces between Jaffna and the mainland is by air.

The Government has accused the LTTE of attempting to disrupt the elections, displacing voters through heavy shelling of `densely- populated areas'.

A Government statement today said the LTTE fired at areas in Valikamam, north of Jaffna town. Two civilians were wounded and 38 families fled their homes.

The LTTE on Friday asked civilians in Thenmarachchi to leave their villages for safer areas in Vadamarachchi. The announcement was made over its clandestine radio, Voice of Tigers.

The Government accused the LTTE of `indiscriminately shelling' those areas when people did not obey the order and said it had forced 74 families to move out.The LTTE last week declared it had launched the fourth phase of its operation to take control of the peninsula, code- named Unceasing Waves, and claimed to have killed over 150 soldiers and wounded 500 in its first thrust at the defence lines at Nagarkovil.

The Government said it had last evening thwarted yet another LTTE attempt to breach the defence lines at Eluthumadduval, south of Kodikamam in Thenmarachchi and claimed to have inflicted a number of casualties among the rebels.

Heavy fighting lasted for about four hours, which forced the LTTE to withdraw, it said. Over 15 LTTE cadres were killedFour soldiers were killed and 43 injured in yesterday's confrontation, the Government claied. So far, the Army has lost at least 39 soldiers in a week's fighting in the area. At least 200 have been wounded in the confrontation.

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