Date:07/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/07/stories/2007050705741400.htm

International

LTTE attack repulsed

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: At least eight cadres of the Tamil Tigers and three members of the Sri Lankan paramilitary force were killed in violence in the last 24 hours in the north and east.

A Defence Ministry statement claimed that the security forces repulsed an LTTE mortar shell attack targeting a civilian settlement at "Etha Wetuna Wewa" in the Weli-Oya general area in the Anuradhapura district on Saturday.

"The LTTE launched mortar shells fell in distance of the civilian settlements causing large explosions and traumatising the villagers, according to the civilian sources. The SL [Sri Lanka] security forces immediately retaliated neutralising the terrorist threat caused to civilian life. No civilian casualties were reported."

Five cadres of the Tamil Tigers were killed in a retaliatory fire, a few km north east of Mannar-Madu area, when the Tigers attacked an army foot patrol. Military officials said forces did not suffer any loss.

A tractor carrying the Special Task Forces troops was caught in an LTTE triggered claymore mine explosion in Kokadycholai, Batticaloa, on Sunday.

The military also reported that the LTTE had fired mortars towards troops at the Forward Defence Lines in west of Omanthai, Vavuniya, on Sunday. One soldier was seriously injured .