M A I N   N E W S

127 killed in Lanka

COLOMBO, May 30 (PTI) — At least 120 Tamil rebels and seven soldiers were killed in a massive offensive by the army against the Tigers in Northern Jaffna as the Sri Lankan Government today asserted that its troops have halted the LTTE’s march to the embattled peninsula.

An army spokesman in Colombo said today that the LTTE wireless radio transmissions have confirmed the death of 116 rebels in the latest army operations in the areas of Ariyalai, Chavackachcheri and Sarasalai which came under repeated attacks from the rebels during the past 20 days.

The LTTE radio intercepts have said that the rebel group suffered heavy casualties in the army attacks, a government statement said adding seven soldiers were also killed.

In another incident, troops attacked an LTTE bunker at Tattorankottie in the peninsula and killed four rebels.

For the first time in the battle of Jaffna, troops resumed the big offensive after procuring some of the latest weapons bought from various countries.