2ND LEAD (ADDS DETAILS)

4 SLA soldiers killed in Northern Front - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 January 2008, 13:45 GMT]
Four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and many wounded in two clashes in Ki'laali and Mukamaalai in Northern Front Wednesday, LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told TamilNet. Meanwhile, sources in Jaffna said that the people hurried home early from their places of work, scared by the intense artillery fire directed towards LTTE positions from the SLA bases in Jaffna. SLA helicopters were seen flying between the FDL poisitions and Palaali Military Main Base.

A three-hour fighting was reported in the Forward Defence Line of Ki'laali from 10:00 a.m. in which 3 SLA were killed and many wounded.

At Mukamaalai a 30-minute clash was reported Wednesday noon. One SLA soldier was killed and at least seven SLA soldiers were wounded.

Meanwhile, heavy artillery and mortar fire duel continued nearly an hour and tension prevailed in Jaffna as rumours of an early curfew spread fast.

Sources in Jaffna reported heavy clashes had erupted between the SLA and the LTTE in the Northern Front Defence Lines (FDL) area in Mukamaalai and Ki’laali Wedenesday around 3:00 p.m.