Jaffna MP, driver killed in Wanni claymore mine blast

Colombo, Mar 6 (UNI) A Jaffna district parliamentarian of the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and his driver were killed in a claymore mine attack in the rebel-held Kilinochchi district today.

''K Sivanathan, the Jaffna district MP was returning back home in Kilinochchi from Colombo after taking part in the emergency debate in the Parliament yesterday when his vehicle came under a targeted claymore mine attack, killing him and his driver around 1315 hrs (local time) today,'' his colleague MP Mavai Senadhirajah told UNI over the phone.

K Sivanathan is the third TNA MP and second Tamil MP to be killed since the beginning of this year.

Blaming the government forces for the attack Mr Senadhirajah said the powerful claymore attack took place near Mankulam on the closed A9 main highway that links the northern Jaffna peninsula with the rest of the island.

However, a spokesman for the government forces rejected the TNA allegation saying that the attack took place in the rebel strong-hold of Kilinochchi where the army does not operate.

UNI XC PD PM1703