M A I N   N E W S

26 killed in Lankan clashes

COLOMBO, May 21 (PTI) — The Sri Lankan Government today said its troops were engaged in a hand-to-hand combat on the outskirts of Chavakachcheri, a small but strategic town near embattled Jaffna city in which two LTTE leaders and nine army soldiers were killed.

Refuting LTTE’s claims of capturing Chavakachcheri, a government statement today said troops had been engaged in a fierce battle with Tamil rebels near the town since yesterday. ‘‘At present, the troops are in contact with groups of terrorists on the outskirts of Chavakachcheri,’’ it said.

Last night, the LTTE claimed that its guerrillas had taken control of the strategically important town, located in the heart of the peninsula.

Denying rebels’ claims, the statement said two LTTE’s area military leaders, Murali and Vasanthan, were killed in the battle.

Government troops also repulsed attempts by the LTTE guerrillas to advance further at Colombothurai, one of northern suburbs of Jaffna town, it said, adding that troops had been supported by air and artillery in the operation. Nine soldiers were killed in the two operations and 47 others, including six officers, were wounded.

The Sri Lankan Government today said 15 civilians were killed and several wounded when artillery shells fired by the LTTE hit a home for the aged at Kaithady, a small town located south east of Jaffna town, yesterday.

The Army and the LTTE have made conflicting claims over controlling Kaithady, located on the banks of Jaffna lagoon. The LTTE claimed that its forces overran Kaithady on May 17 but the army refuted it, saying its forces were very much in control of the small town.

Meanwhile, in a major boost to Sri Lanka’s diplomatic campaign against the LTTE, European Parliament this weekend adopted a resolution recommending ban of the LTTE by member states. In another development, Sri Lankan diplomats thwarted attempts by a pro-LTTE human rights group’s bid to seek consultative status in the United Nations Committee on NGOs.