Chavakachcheri battles rage

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 September 2000, 09:51 GMT]
Fierce fighting has been continuing in the outskirts of Chavakachcheri where the Liberation Tigers have launched counter attacks on Sri Lanka Army troops who had advanced towards this key town in the Jaffna peninsula on Sunday, sources in Jaffna said.

Sounds of heavy artillery and mortar fire continued through out the night in the Thenmaradchi sector the sources said.

The SLA said Sunday it had captured Chavakachcheri, but last night LTTE sources in London said heavy fighting was raging in the outskirts of the town where SLA troops were meeting fierce resistance from the Tigers.

SLA officials in Colombo said Monday that the troops have repulsed the LTTE's counter offensive.

SLA spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne said the LTTE has suffered heavy casualties. He said that fifteen government troops were killed and 20 wounded in the fighting. The LTTE has not officially commented on the fighting.