2ND LEAD:

SLA suffers casualties in fresh offensive in Madu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 12:38 GMT]
Twelve Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed and 33 wounded when a special unit of the SLA launched a fresh offensive amid artillery barrage towards Mullikkulam, 12 km northesat of Madu Church in Iranai Illuppaikulam GS division, Mannar, Wednesday evening according to initial reports from the area. 26 wounded soldiers were admitted to Anurdhapura public hospital and 7 more were rushed to military hospital, according to medical sources.

Initial reports from the area said the SLA had suffered heavy casualties when the LTTE retaliated the SLA troopers.

Meanwhile, a military source in Colombo claimed that there was a "road side explosion" in the area while another military source said there was "an incident" declining to specify the details.

The LTTE is yet to release details of the clash in Madu Division.

Sri Lanka Army had stepped up artillery shelling towards Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam controlled area Wednesday morning.

Mullikkulam is located 10 km east of Paalampiddi and northwest of Iranai Iluppaikkulam.

Chronology: