10 killed in Sri Lanka's fresh clashes

Colombo, Sept 8: At least seven Tamil Tiger rebels and three government soldiers have been killed in fresh clashes in northern Sri Lanka yesterday, military here said today.

The clash erupted when troops manning the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) in the general area of Nagar Kovil confronted a group of armed LTTE cadres attempting to 'infiltrate' the military garrison yesterday, the Ministry of Defence informed.

Two terrorists were killed ahead of the FDL by troops while remaining cadres fled the area, they said, adding that a few more infiltration attempts by the LTTE was also thwarted by troops in the general areas of Kuduruvitankulam, Thampanai and Umayarathuvarankulam in Vavuniya district.

''Army fire killed five terrorists. Others fled the area with their injured cadres. During confrontations three soldiers sacrificed their lives,'' the Ministry said.

Meanwhile, more than 3,000 people have fled their homes in north-western Mannar district to escape fresh fighting between the advancing government troops and the rebels over the past week.

Local government officials in Mannar said 3,109 people had moved from southern parts of Mannar such as Arippu, Silvaththurai and Mullikkulam to Nanattan division in the north of the district with many of them being accommodated in two schools and a damaged mosque.

The Sri Lankan Navy has announced that it would establish two new camps in the newly-captured Mullikulam and Silavatturai areas within a couple of days.

UNI