Over 13 killed in Trincomalee clashes, police impose curfew

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Colombo, Apr 12 (UNI) At least 13 people, including a soldier, were killed and 40 civilians wounded in a spate of clashes in the eastern port city of Tincomalee district this evening.

A curfew has been imposed in the region after the police tried to control the situation by firing tear gas canisters.

''The clashes triggered off after bomb explosion at the vegetable market in the Trincomalee town that left one soldier and five civilians killed initially. Some shops and a petrol station were set on fire,'' military sources here said, adding that eight others were also killed and 40 more wounded in the subsequent violence.

The military sources, however, said that the situation has now been brought under full control of the police assisted by the armed forces.

Commenting on the Trincomalee clashes Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) spokeswoman, Helen Olafsdittir, said that the newly-appointed head of the mission, who was in Kilinochchi for a meeting with the LTTE leaders, flew to Trincomalee immediate and held discussions with the area Naval Commander this evening.

''Our monitors on the field have not visited the scenes yet as it is too violent. The situation is calming down now. The SLMM head is flying back to Kilinochchi tomorrow to hold a crucial meeting with LTTE's political wing head, S P Thamilselvan,'' the SLMM spokeswoman said.

Earlier, two policemen were killed and two more injured when the truck they were travelling got trapped in a claymore mine explosion.

Over 20 security force personnel have been killed within the past 72 hours claymore explosions in the volatile North-East region.

The military has blamed the Tamil Tigers for the attacks.

UNI XC PR GC1935

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