14 SLA killed in Mannaar clash - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 January 2008, 17:18 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Operations Command of Maanaar told media Tuesday that a ground movement by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was thwarted at Mu'l'ikku'lam in Mannaar after 3 hours stiff resistance by the Tigers. Four more SLA soldiers were killed, trapped in a booby trap, while they were retreating with their casualties around 11:00 a.m., the Tigers said. Around 40 SLA troops were wounded, according to the LTTE claim. There were no Tiger casualties, they said. But, the SLA claimed that they had killed six LTTE fighters when the Tigers attempted to enter an area under SLA control.

The SLA claimed to have thwarted "pockets of LTTE resistance" in the area.

The Tigers said the SLA used heavy artillery, including Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire. Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir fighters also engaged in air strikes in support of the SLA troop movement.

The SLA pulled back after sustaining heavy casualties, according the LTTE claim.