11 SLA killed in Mannaar - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 February 2008, 17:41 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Operations Command in Mannaar said Friday that 11 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and many wounded when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) recaptured a position at Pa'ndivirichchaan Friday morning between 5:00 and 6:30 a.m. Meanwhlie, an SLA Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) was confronted by the Tigers at Mu'l'likku'lam around 2:00 p.m. 2 Claymore mines were seized, the Tigers said.

The SLA in Pa'ndivirichchaan captured an LTTE point. The Tigers within a few minutes launched a counter-attack and recaptured their point. The clash intensified as the SLA struggled to recover 3 of their dead soldiers, according to the Tigers.

On Thursday, LTTE and SLA clashed for 45 minutes at Mu'l'likku'lam where the SLA has to abandon its attempt to advance. Another attempt by the SLA to advance at Pa'ndivirichchaan was thwarted Thursday around 2:00 p.m., after a clash that lasted for an hour.

LTTE has not issued casualty details of their side.

The SLA claimed that 4 Tigers were killed on Thursday in Mannaar and said Tiger casualties were higher in Vavuniyaa and Ma'nalaa'ru, saying a total of 45 Tigers were slain on Thursday alone. Only 14 SLA soldiers were wounded, according to the claims by the SLA.