'Tigers in pitched battle against genocidal military' - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 February 2009, 13:48 GMT]
"The defensive formations of the Liberation Tigers are courageously facing the Sri Lanka Army, which has been engaged by Colombo in a genocidal war against Tamils," said S. Puleedevan from LTTE's Political office in Vanni Sunday evening. The offensive units of the SLA had massed near Puthukkudiyiruppu (PTK) in full strength, with tanks and all preparedness in their hurry to capture PTK in the next one or two days, but are now pushed back beyond their forward lines, he said. The fighting, which began in the early hours of Sunday was still continuing.

Three battle tanks, two troop carriers, a military bus and two tractors were fully destroyed in the fighting so far, Mr. Puleedevan said.

150 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 350 have been wounded. The Tigers have been seizing heavy military hardware and recovering dead bodies of the SLA soldiers, who were killed in action, he further said.

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