LTTE kills four civilians in Anuradhapura: Lankan govt

Colombo, Nov 26 (UNI) Tamil Tiger rebels have shot dead four civilians, including a woman at Mahawilachchiya, a village in the north-central province this morning, Sri Lankan government said.

''Terrorists opened fire at the villagers and fled into the jungle area at the bordering Wilpaththu Sanctuary,'' the Defence Ministry said in a report.

Police and security forces were conducting extensive search and clearing operations in the area, which is located about 30 km north-east of Anuradhapura.

Defence sources viewed this as an LTTE genocide attempt to create fear among the villagers and force them to flee their traditional land at the boarder of the ancient Anuradhapura kingdom.

The LTTE had yesterday accused the Sri Lankan Air Force of killing four civilians in the Wanni during an early morning air raid.

However, the Air Forces said they successfully bombed an LTTE satellite communications and coordinating center in Dharmapuram in the north-east of the rebel-held Kilinochchi district.

UNI