Sporadic clashes kill 12

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its night news bulletin that the Liberation Tigers had attacked an SLA petrol last morning around 08.45 a.m., in Saambaal Kulam, in the Manal Aaru area, south of Mullaithivu.

Four SLA soldiers were killed, while the others withdrew along with the wounded, the VoT said.

T-56 assault rifles, ammunition, grenades and other military hardware were captured by the Liberation Tigers in the attack, the radio said further.

The radio also said that on February 2, two LTTE supporters were killed in a sea accident. They are identified as Pathmanathan Thayaparan, Jaffna and Thurai, Akarayan Kulam, the radio said.

The radio also said that there was heavy shelling by the SLA towards Kilinochchi, which was captured by the LTTE last week.

Meanwhile the Sri Lankan Army claimed that during a confrontation with the SLA troops in Meesalai in Chavakachcheri yesterday , two Liberation Tigers committed suicide by blowing up their own grenades.

In Neerveli, 4 Liberation Tigers were killed in confrontation, while several SLA soldiers sustained injuries, said Army sources in Jaffna.