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Rebels attack Sri Lanka navy post, kill 10
Tamil Tiger rebels overran a navy outpost in Sri Lanka Wednesday, killing at least 10 sailors and losing four of their own fighters, the guerrillas said.The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they seized heavy weapons and radar equipment after hitting the Irukkulampiddi naval detachment in northwestern Mannar district in a pre-dawn commando-style raid. Sri Lankans navy, however, said security forces had beaten back the offensive by killing at least four rebels, including a senior leader, and destroying a guerrilla boat. They are making big claims, but the attack was beaten back, navy spokesman Commander DKP Dassanayake said. We lost three sailors killed and four more wounded. Four Tigers were killed. One of their boats was destroyed by us. The clandestine Voice of Tigers radio said the rebels occupied the navy facility for more than two hours and killed at least 10 sailors before escaping with heavy weapons including mortars, an anti-tank weapon and explosives. Four Tiger commandos were killed in action, said the Tiger radio broadcast. The defence ministry said following the fighting, the military deployed Mi-24 helicopter gunships to attack fleeing rebel boats. The air assault had been launched targeting the terror boats fleeing (north) towards Veddithalthivu area, the ministry said. It said the guerrillas had carried out the attack with the intention of discouraging civilians in rebel-held areas from escaping to government-held territory. The attack was on the small Mannar islet on the islands northwest coast which juts towards neighbouring India. Posted by: Fred 2008-06-12 |
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