3RD LEAD

10 Muslims massacred, one wounded, one missing in Pottuvil

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 September 2006, 05:38 GMT]
Ten Muslim workers who went Sunday to repair, Rattal Kulam, a water tank, 9 km south of Pottuvil in Amparai district, were found butchered to death, Monday morning, Police said. One person was recovered with wounds and another person is reported missing. The massacre has taken place near a Special Task Force (STF) training camp near Yala National Park. A dispute was present in the area regarding the repair of the reservoir between the Sinhalese and Muslim farmers, according to initial reports. Tension prevails in Pottuvil.

The wounded victim was rushed to Pottuvil hospital and later transferred to Amparai hospital, medical sources said.

The dead bodies were brought to a Mosque, civilian sources in Pottuvil said.

Sri Lanka military blamed the Tigers for the kilings.

Tigers have blamed the Sri Lankan counter-insurgency STF charging that the massacre was part of a sabotage campaign by the Sri Lankan forces.