LOC22:20
19:20 GMT
NEW DELHI, Jan 28 (KUNA) -- The banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) Monday bombed a Sri Lankan air base, even as 63 rebels and three
seurity personnel have been killed in ground clashes since weekend.
In fresh clashes in North-western Mannar region today, 25 LTTE rebels and
one government soldier were killed, news agency Press Trust of India reported
quoting Sri Lankan Defence Ministry statement.
In clashes near Adampan in Mannar, seven LTTE cadres were killed today. Two
LTTE rebels were killed at Vannakkulam at Mannar this morning, the news agency
said.
The LTTE claimed to have bombed the Palaly airfield in northern Jaffna
peninsula today, forcing its closure. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force combat
fighters raided LTTE positions in Paranthan Northern Sri Lanka, the Defence
Ministry said today.
In ground clashes, at least three LTTE rebels were killed in
Alakallapottakulam in Vavuniya today, the Media Centre for National Security
said. At Pandirichchan in Vavuniya, at least 10 rebels were killed yesterday
in a clash, it said.
In seperate clashes at Vauniya, 16 LTTE rebels were killed yesterday, the
news agency said.
Meanwhile, two government troopers were killed and six were injured in an
explosion in Mannar last night, the Defence Ministry said. (end)
dr.bs
KUNA 282220 Jan 08NNNN