M A I N   N E W S

96 killed in Sri Lanka clashes

Colombo, January 12
At least 95 Tamil Tigers were killed in fierce fighting with Sri Lankan troops in the island’s embattled north, the military said today, as clashes intensified after the government last decided to pull out of a six-year-old ceasefire with the rebels last week.

One soldier was killed and 27 others sustained injuries in the fighting, which came even as a Japanese peace envoy is headed for the island to discuss the situation after the scrapping of the 2002 truce.

Troops engaged in fierce artillery duel with LTTE this morning, killing at least 15 LTTE cadres and injuring scores as troops further advanced into non-liberated Palaikkuli general area, the defence ministry said.

The military said at least 95 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels were killed in a series of gun battles with the security forces in the restive northern parts of the country, with most of the casualties occurring in clashes in Vavuniya and Mannar fronts.

In Muhamalai in Jaffna peninsula, troops yesterday ran into LTTE bunker defences, killing three rebels, the Defence Ministry said. — PTI

LTTE chief injured?

Colombo, January 12
There are strong indications that elusive LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran was injured, Sri Lankan Army Chief Sarath Fonseka has said claiming that the military had reduced the rebel strength to half.

“We have a strong feeling that he is injured and nothing much is known about him after he paid homage to (political advisor) Anton Balasingham on December 14,” the General told foreign journalists last night.

Fosenka said that unlike on other occasions when reports of the 53-year-old LTTE chief being killed proved to be false, intelligence reports were this time expressing doubts about his being “fully fit” and the morale of the Tamil Tigers too appeared to be shaken.

“We have weakened the LTTE by 50 per cent or more and we are confident we can go that extra mile this year,” Fosenka said, adding he wanted to “finish” the task before he retires by the end of this year.

Earlier reports had claimed that the underground bunker where Prabhakaran was hiding during a Nov 26 air raid was partially destroyed injuring him.

The LTTE, however, had denied reports that its chief was injured in the attack.

“We have received reports that Prabhakaran may not be fully fit and that is the reason for his staying indoors,” Fonseka said.

When reminded of a similar rumour after the 2004 tsunami, Fonseka said though at that time there were reports of Prabhakaran’s death, “our intelligence had stated that he was alive.But this is not the case this time. My intelligence says there are doubts about his being fully fit.”

The General said that during the latest encounters, the army could feel that the morale of LTTE cadres was shaken.

“We recently found two bodies of young girls who died fighting for the LTTE in Wanni when it is at a crucial stage. This has raised suspicion that the LTTE is also facing a shortage of fighters,” Fonsenka said.

Fonseka said he would desire to “fully deal” with the LTTE problem before he retired by the end of 2008.

“I don’t want to pass on this task to my successor and would like to finish it before I retire by the end of this year,” he said.

Referring to LTTE’s statement asking the government to restore the 2002 ceasefire, the General said, “you can hear of more such statements by the LTTE. Now the LTTE wants us to continue with CFA.” — PTI