Tigers pushing closer to town centre

[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 May 2000, 13:13 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers have begun moving into the coastal suburbs of Jaffna town said a senior journalist at a daily newspaper published in the northern peninsula contacted by phone this evening. He said that the Sri Lankan army positions in Maniyanthottam, Ariyalai, Colombuthurai have been vacated.

The advancing Tiger troops were attacking the SLA position at Pungankulam in the vicinity of the Jaffna Kachcheri late this afternoon and troops here too are pulling out, according to the journalist.

Civilians had moved out from the coastal suburbs following an announcement by the Liberation Tigers yesterday.

The Tigers have asked civilians living within the limits of the Jaffna Municipal Council to move out to safer areas in the Valikamam sector.

They have also asked civilians living close to artillery and mortar positions to move out to safety.