3RD LEAD

4 health officials wounded in deep penetration attack in Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 June 2006, 08:49 GMT]
Four health officials of Tamileelam Health Service Mobile Medical Service were wounded when Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) exploded a Claymore mine together with three explosives. A nurse and the driver of the vehicle were seriously wounded in the attack that took place at Akkarayan, 20 km from Kilinochchi around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Police officials in Kilinochchi said. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials visited the attack site.



The vehicle belonging to the Tamileelam Health Service was damaged in the attack that took place, west of Akkarayan junction towards Mulankavil, at 9th Mile Post.

The doctor was from the LTTE's Medical Unit. Two women nurses and the driver were civilian workers employed in Tamil Eelam Health Services.

The Claymore mine was detonated from 60 meters distance. Three other explosives were planted in 3 meters distance to explode jointly with the Claymore mine, Police officials who inspected the site explained.

The Claymore mine hit the vehicle which was returning to Kilinochchi after a routine visit to rural villages in Mannar providing medical services, according to Tamileelam Police officials.