25 die as fresh fighting erupts in Sri Lanka

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, JULY 1: Fighting between Sri Lankan security forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam shifted to the northern mainland as troops mounted an offensive in the Weli Oya region that left at least 25 combatants on both sides dead and many wounded.

A government statement asserted that the offensive had destroyed an LTTE ``strong point'' at Ehthawetunuweva, in Weli Oya of northeastern Vanni.

It said one officer and eight soldiers were killed and 43 wounded in the offensive launched in the early hours of Friday. It also claimed that more than 30 LTTE fighters had been killed in the battle.

But a Tamil Internet site, quoting unnamed LTTE officials in London, said the military offensive had been thwarted. The LTTE had lost 16 of its combatants and killed 15 soldiers, the site reported.

It said that government troops had penetrated 1 km into LTTE defences but were pushed back to their former positions in a fierce counter-attack by the Tigers.

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Section  : International
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