STF offensive in Amparai thwarted - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 September 2006, 15:32 GMT]
An offensive launched by the Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) troopers Wednesday morning from Kanjirankudah STF camp in Amparai district towards the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Kanchikudicharu area, was repulsed by the Tigers, said LTTE's Military Spokesman I. Ilanthirayan. According to medical sources in Amparai, at least 18 STF and paramilitary men were killed, and more than 25 wounded in the STF offensive.

The offensive was launched with troop movement at 5:30 a.m. It was repulsed around 11:30 a.m., LTTE military spokesman said. There was no Tiger casualties.

LTTE Special Commander Ram and Amparai Commander Stanley coordinated the defensive operation repulsing the STF offensive, according to the Tiger military spokesman.

Civilian access to Akkaraipattu hospital remained blocked as bodies of STF and paramilitary men were taken to the hospital till the bodies and wounded were transferred to Colombo, civil sources in Amparai said.

LTTE's Amparai District Political Head Jeya charged Colombo was continuing to "insult the international facilitation" by launching a fresh offensive towards LTTE positions in Amparai and sending it's bombers over Kilinochchi while the Norwegian Ambassador was visiting LTTE Political leadership.

A spokesman attached to the Colombo office of the paramilitary Karuna group, claiming that they had captured LTTE territory, said one of their cadres was killed and five wounded.

The artillery shells hit LTTE controlled Kanjikudichcharu, Pavatta and Rufus Camp areas, civilian sources said.

A shop and two civilian houses were damaged in STF artillery attacks from Kanjirankuda and Thandiyady STF camps. The shelling had begun around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.