SLA steps up fighting in Mu'rika'ndi, Akkaraayan

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 October 2008, 19:54 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter gunships were deployed in transporting casualties on Wednesday from newly occuppied territories in the southern frontiers of Ki'linochchi as Sri Lanka Army stepped up fighting amid stiff resistance by the Tigers. SLA launched artillery barrage in the frontiers also extended to target the suburbs of Ki'linochchi town, causing panic among the civilians who had come back for temporary stay in their houses due to the lack of shelter elsewhere following the monsoonal rain. More than 80 SLA soldiers were killed and 200 sustained injuries within the past 4 days, according to informed sources in Colombo.

The LTTE defensive formations were engaged in several fronts putting up stiff resistance, according to the sources close to the LTTE.

The fighting intensified in Akkaraayan and Mu'rika'ndi on Wednesday from 5:30 a.m. till 6:00 p.m., after four days of continuous fighting along the southern frontiers of Ki'linochchi. The SLA has claimed that it had advanced further into Akkaraayanku'lam.

Meanwhile, informed sources in Colombo said military hospitals were struggling to accommodate all the wounded soldiers.