17 SLA killed, 54 wounded, two-pronged SL operation thwarted in Mannaar - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 December 2007, 16:33 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) on Saturday thwarted a two-pronged Sri Lanka Army (SLA) movement towards Uyilangku'lam in Mannaar, Tiger officials at Mannaar Operations Command told media in Ki'linochchi. Backed with heavy artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher fire, the SLA troops attempted to enter LTTE controlled area on two fronts, but were defeated after 12 hours of stiff resistance in which 17 SLA troopers were killed and 54 wounded. 3 LTTE fighters were killed in action, according to the Tigers.

The SLA operation was launched at 5:40 a.m. and the Tigers said they successfully repulsed the SLA units at 5:20 p.m. after heavy fighting.

Meanwhile, SLA officials in Colombo Saturday noon claimed that they had captured LTTE bunkers. According to the SLA claim only one SLA soldier was killed and six wounded while they put the casualty figure of the Tigers at eight.