LTTE mounts pre-dawn attack on naval base in Jaffna

Colombo, May 24: A flotilla of Tamil rebel boats have mounted a major attack on a Sri Lankan Naval base at Delft islet off northern Jaffna peninsula overnight.

According to a top naval official, the fighting units of the LTTE had come in a flotilla of 12 Sea Tiger boats, which included three explosive-laden suicide boats, trying to infiltrate into the Delft islet controlled by the navy.

Heavy clashes are going between the navy and the LTTE both in the land and sea areas of the Delft island at the moment. The navy has called for assistance from the Air Force as well, the naval official attached to the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) told UNI over the phone.

He said the navy was effectively countering the LTTE's sea-borne onslaught and has sank at least one of the separatist guerrilla vessels.

There could be casualties on our side also, but no further details are available as heavy fightings are still on, he said.

The rebels did not immediately comment on the navy's claims.

The latest fighting came as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) pulled its staff away from entry/exit frontlines dividing Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tigers elsewhere in the north-central Vavuniya and Mannar districts due to the escalation of fighting.

UNI