Five civilians killed-VoT

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 1999, 07:08 GMT]
Five civilians were killed and 60 wounded when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells from Thallaady army camp in Mannar yesterday, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its night news bulletin yesterday.

The radio said that the SLA fired artillery shells from Thallaady day and night for the last few days.

Yesterday there was a small break in the day before the shelling started and continued through the night the radio said.

Thousands of displaced people from Vidaththaltheevu, Ooran, Kaddadivayal, Kovilkulam and Kalliyadi have sought refuge at Paaliyaaru, Moondraampiddy, and Vellankulam the radio said.

The displaced people are living under trees as there are no public buildings in these areas to accommodate them. No relief assistance is available either, the radio said.

Banks and Co-operative shops in Illuppaikadavai and Manthai west have been closed and the officers working there have fled to safer areas.