5 SLA troops killed, 11 injured in clashes in Vanni - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 18:48 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) thwarted an advance attempt by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Wednesday around 7:20 a.m through Paalaikuzhi in Mannaar, killing five troops and injuring eleven, LTTE Mannaar Operations Command officials told media in Ki'linochchi. Meanwhile, similar SLA attempts at Mukamaalai Wednesday around 11:00 a.m, at Ma'nalaa'ru Ma'nki'ndimalai area Wednesday around 10:40 a.m. and at Ma'nalaa'ru Ceylon Theatres area around 12.10 a.m, have been successfully repulsed by LTTE combatants, LTTE sources added.

SLA troops, aided with artillery, mortar fire attempted to penetrate into LTTE territory in Mannaar through Paalaikuzhi Wednesday around 7:20 a.m when they met stiff resistance from the LTTE fighters who kept fighting until 11:20 a.m, killing five SLA troopers and injuring eleven.

The SLA troops withdrew following stiff LTTE resistance. One Tiger combatant was killed in action, according to Mannaar operations command of the Tigers.

At about 10:40 a.m Wednesday, an SLA Deep Penetration Unit (DPU), armed with Claymore mines, tried to penetrate into LTTE territory in Ma'nki'ndimalai in Ma'nalaa'ru in Vanni but abandoned its attempt and fled, repulsed by LTTE, leaving behind 4 Claymore mines, 2 activating controls and a wire role besides other related equipments. LTTE Ma'nalaa'ru Operations Command officials told media that there were casualties among the SLA troops that attempted to penetrate into LTTE territory. The Tigers said they recovered some military equipments left behind by the SLA unit when it fled back.

Meanwhile, at about 12.10 p.m Wednesday, another SLA unit that attempted to advance towards LTTE positions in Ceylon Theatre area in Ma'nalaa'ru, was repulsed by the Tigers. The SLA troops withdrew with wounded soldiers, the Tigers claimed.

In Northern Front, a clash erupted between the Tigers and a SLA unit that attempted to enter LTTE territory in Mukamaalai Wednesday around 11:00 a.m. The fighting lasted for 30 minutes. Information about SLA casualties or injuries are not known. SLA, following the LTTE assault, launched heavy artillery and mortar fire on the LTTE territory from 11:40 a.m to 1:35 p.m.