3RD LEAD

Clashes erupt at Nagarkovil, SLAF bombs Palai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 September 2006, 09:12 GMT]
Artillery attacks from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) positions towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Forward Defence Line in Vadamaradchi East intensified Thursday noon after exchange of mortar and gunfire in Nagarkovil. Earlier, around 10:0 a.m., Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers dropped at least 9 bombs in Pachchilaippalli village in Pallai in Thenmaradchi, destroying at least five civilian houses. Meanwhile, informed military circles in Colombo said some SLA coastal sentries near Nagarkovil camp were destroyed by the Sea Tigers in the fighting that ensued.

Artillery firing was reported from 5:00 p.m. Wednesday till 11:00 a.m. Thursday from SLA positions towards LTTE territory, sources in Kilinochchi said.

Civilian sources said heavy explosions and gunfire was heard in the coastal area in Nagarkovil.

Sea Tiger boats had managed to penetrate the Sri Lankan defence formations along the coastal areas and destroyed SLA sentry posts, informed military circles in Colombo said. The sources further claimed there were casualties in the encounter, but official SLA sources refused to confirm the incident or any casualties.

Also, the Tiger officials in Kilinochchi did not confirm the reports of Sea Tiger penetration, but said the clashes had taken place along the Forward Defence Line.

On Tuesday, 4 SLA soldiers were killed and 12 reported wounded in a artillery duel in Muhamalai in Thenmaradchi sector of Jaffna district. A group of journalists taken to a tour in Muhamalai area by the Sri Lanka Army and the Air Force, were hurriedly evacuated from the area after artillery attacks.

The LTTE Political Head, S. P. Thamilchelvan, recently welcomed the International Community's condemnation of the Sri Lankan aerial bombardment on Vallipunam in Mullaithivu and the condemnation of the slaying of Tamil and Muslim aid-workers in Muthur. The Tigers said it was Colombo, as the party that launched military offensives, had the initial responsibility to honor the Norwegian brokered Ceasefire Agreement and respect the CFA positions, referring to the SLA occupation of Sampoor.