LTTE attacks army post in Srilanka, seven soldiers killed

Colombo, Oct 16 (UNI) Tamil Tigers rebels mounted an army post in Panama in the south-east of Sri Lanka, killing six soldiers and wounding one last night, military sources here said.

''One of the military outposts at Thalgasmankada located about 50 km south of Pottuvil, guarding the Yala national park came under the LTTE attack last night. Six soldiers were killed and one more wounded,'' military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara told UNI over phone, adding that the military had repulsed the rebel attack.

Meanwhile, a military tractor travelling towards the scene of attack to transport the bodies became the victim of a pressure mine blast this morning, killing one soldier and wounding three more, Brig Nanayakkara said.

Raising suspicions the rebels ''could have come by land'', he said, adding that ''the army is now conducting a search operation in the area''.

UNI