2ND LEAD (UPDATE)

Muslim civilian killed in SLA retaliatory fire in Mannar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 June 2006, 14:39 GMT]
A Muslim civilian was killed when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers in Mannar town, opend fire after an SLA soldier and two policemen were wounded in a grenade attack in front of the SLA camp in Mannar Stadium. Shops were closed and civilians remained indoors following the incident at 7:00 p.m. Saturday.

The Muslim civilian killed in SLA gunfire was identified as Hussain from Uppukulam. The body was handed over to Mannar hospital by the Police around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

An SLA soldier, Upali Jegath, 42, was seriously wounded in the grenade attack.

The wouded SLA soldier and two police constables, Ratnayake, 32, and Silva, 36, wounded in the incident, were rushed to Thallady SLA 21-2 base, and airlifted to Anuradhapura hospital, medical sources said.

SLA soldiers in the surronding checkposts in the area opened fire following the incident.