Rebels deny their role in Lanka mine attack

Colombo, June 15: The Tamil Tiger rebels today ''denied their involvement'' in the claymore mine attack that killed at least 61 civilians and injured 41 others while condemning it as ''mindless use of civilian life for political end''.

''The GoSL operated forces is continuing to take civilian life with total impunity in the North East. Since Geneva talks in February, 250 civilians, including 24 children, have been allegedly killed by GoSL operative forces in the North East. It has now spread its tactic of using civilian life for political end beyond the North East, the LTTE peace secretariat website charged in a statement.

The LTTE also accused that the attack timed to occur immediately after the arrival of the LTTE delegation from Oslo ''is a reprehensible act of murders with the sole aim of blaming the LTTE for the attack''.

The LTTE statement also said the Sri Lankan Air Force jets have bombed some target in the LTTE-held Mullaitivu area immediately after the clamymore attack in Kebithikkollawa.

''The SL Air Force bombed the LTTE controlled Mullativu area immediately after the above Claymore attack. Further information about the damages is awaited. The GoSL is going to justify the air attack as retaliation for the claymore attack which is also in fact carried out by them,'' the LTTE statement said.

However, there is no government confirmation on the aerial attack on the LTTE targets today.

The LTTE reaction has come at a time when the government blamed the LTTE for carrying out yet another terrorist attack on the civilians and urged the international community, especially the donor co-chairs and the Norwegian facilitators to ''help the government'' in eradicating terrorism.

Claiming that the motive of the LTTE attackers was to ''instigate a backlash in order to fulfill their evil designs'' the government urged the people to be calm and support its endeavour to fight terrorism.

''It is not mistaken target because the military do not use this route. The LTTE was well aware that they are civilians. The attack carries the hallmark of the LTTE and there is no doubt that it was carried out by them,'' Government spokesman on defence matters, Minister Rambukwella told reporters here today.

Describing the attack on the civilians as a ''barbaric act'' of terrorism, he said the Norwegian-brokered peace process and the four-year long ceasefire agreement had to be re-looked in a proper context.

UNI

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