2ND LEAD (Adds details)

Gunmen fire on SLA patrol in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 December 2005, 11:24 GMT]
Two soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were injured when unidentified men fired at an SLA patrol close to the Jaffna Kandarmadam junction and Jaffna Hindu Ladies College Friday around 2.30 p.m, sources said. The firefight lasted for more than 10 minutes, according to the same sources. However, the Sri Lanka military did not confirm of injuries to soldiers.

Field Bike Unit of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) arrived at the site and launched a cordon and search operation.

Soldiers stopped all traffic and civilian movements through the area. Several civilians were assaulted during the search, civil sources said.