SLA cordon, search area surrounding LTTE political office

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 00:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) cordoned off and searched Tuesday morning area around LTTE Political Office at Potpathi Road, Kokuvil in Jaffna, scheduled to reopen Wednesday with the arrival of the LTTE poltical group headed by C. Ilamparithi, sources in Jaffna said. Having failed to get assurances from Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Jaffna guaranteeing their safety, the LTTE political section cancelled their plans to resume political work on Wednesday, sources added.

Jaffna University Student Uinion members and volunteers Monday cleaned up the LTTE Political Office compound in preparation for LTTE officials to begin political work.

The SLA brought in additional soldiers to the area and searched the surrounding premises, asking the nearby residents names of the students who had volunteered to clean the LTTE political office.

Tension prevailed in Kokuvil area, local residents said.

Meanwhile, the SLA troops remained near the LTTE office until Tuesday evening, said sources in Jaffna.