Fierce fighting erupts in Mannar, 12 combatants killed

Colombo, July 20 (UNI) Fierce fighting broke out in the Northern Mannar district this morning when a large group of LTTE cadres mounted a pre-dawn attack on Sri Lankan military personnel manning the Forward Lines (FDLs), leaving at least 12 combatants killed on both sides, military sources here said.

Military spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe said a group of 75 to 100 heavily armed LTTE cadres backed by long-range artillery and mortar shelling has tried to infiltrate the military FDLs along Neelachchenai and adjoining villages in Mannar around 0245 hrs today.

But the military successfully thwarted their attempt, inflicting heavy casualties on them.

According to LTTE communications, at least nine LTTE cadres were killed and 24 more wounded when the military retaliated their attack, Brig. Samarasinghe told UNI.

''We also have three soldiers killed and four more wounded in action,'' he said, adding that the troops on subsequent search operation recovered three T-56 assault rifles, three hand grenades and some RPG bombs left behind by the rebels.

There was no immediate comment from the LTTE regarding their fresh onslaught in Mannar this morning.

Independent verification of counts on both sides is not possible.

The attack came a day after the government held a national ceremony to celebrate the military victory in the east and to remember the soldiers killed in the battles to liberate the east from the clutches of the LTTE.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said it was up to the rebels to choose whether they want peace or war. He said it is high time for the LTTE to accept the reality that it is not possible to bring liberation to the Tamil people through guns, bombs and cyanide capsules.

''However dreadful, I will not be subdued or frightened by the violent growls of the LTTE. I will not be shaken by their threats of assassination,'' the President said, addressing at the victory celebrations in Colombo yesterday.

UNI