SLA hands over 4 dead bodies to Mannaar hospital

[TamilNet, Friday, 12 October 2007, 16:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Friday evening handed over four dead bodies recovered from Maanthai village near Thirukkeatheesvaram, a border area between the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled area and the SLA controlled area in Mannaar. The SLA claimed that the dead were LTTE cadres. However, the victims could be innocent civilians, according to local residents. Two SLA soldiers were killed when a clash erupted in the border area Friday around 4:30 p.m., according to the SLA.

The dead bodies are yet to be identified.

The SLA launched heavy artillery shelling towards LTTE controlled areas Friday night at 8:00 p.m.

The traffic along Mannaar - Mathavaachchi and Mannaar - Vangkaalai roads were disturbed Friday evening due to the clashes.