Jaffna clash kills 46

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 January 2000, 19:20 GMT]
Forty Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and over 100 wounded today in fierce confrontations at Iyakachchi in the Jaffna peninsula around 7 a.m. today, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its night news broadcast.

The radio said the Liberation Tigers handed over two bodies of the SLA recovered during the fight.

According to the radio the fighting formations of the LTTE launched a counter attack on the troops who tried to advance into the Iyakachchi environs in the morning.

The SLA was forced to abandon their attempt to advance and retreat. The Tigers also recovered arms and ammunition following the clash.

The radio further said that the LTTE lost 6 members in the fight.

Sources in Anuradhapura said that 50 wounded soldiers were brought to the general hospital from the battlefield in the north this evening. Hospital officials said more casualties were expected and they were ready to receive them.