International

“LTTE using civilians as shields”

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan forces on Friday claimed that at least four Tamil Tigers were killed and a soldier died in clashes along the Wanni Forward Defence Line (FDL) even as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) urged both sides to ensure that lives of civilians are not put to unnecessary risk.

According to Defence Ministry, the LTTE casualties occurred in retaliatory attacks on Thursday afternoon. It said the Tigers launched two attacks at the soldiers deployed in Kuduruvitankulam forcing them to retaliate.

Separately, the military said the Tiger cadres fired heavy mortars at troops deployed in Thampanai killing one soldier and injuring another. “Troops retaliated to the attack using heavy guns and took the situation under control.”

Quoting intelligence sources, the Ministry said the LTTE was using civilians in Illupakadaveli and Periyamadu areas as “human shield” to protect its heavy weapons.

“The sources further said that the terrorists have blocked all the accesses to the Madhu shrine in order to prevent civilians taking refuge at the Church. Information obtained form the civilian sources had revealed that a large number of civilians in the Vattakandal, Adampan, Andankulam, Prappakadaththan and Papamodai areas are trying to seek the refuge in the Madhu shrine.”

In another development, the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, an NGO, in a statement said the high cost paid by the civilian population due to the confrontations is highlighted by the recent incidents in Silavathurai in the northern Mannar district. It said that over 4000 persons had been displaced and 20 killed, including women and children fleeing the area, in a roadside claymore mine explosion.

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