Lanka denies exodus amid fresh LTTE attacks

However, 8220;troops repulsed this attack causing terrorists to withdraw with their casualties,quot; it said adding three soldiers were killed and 38 wounded in the attack.

In another development, security forces killed seven rebels at Nagarkovil and Mahumali areas in the peninsula.

Army troops and guerrillas also exchanged fire in north-eastern Welioya region in the Vanni in which four rebels were killed and ten guerrillas injured.

The release also said quot;despite fighting between security forces and terrorists in Ariyalai area, life in Jaffna goes on as usual. Residents are not showing any panic and continue their day-to-day activitiesquot;.

Meanwhile, President Chandrika Kumaratunga has called for a meeting of all political parties to apprise them about the current situation.

State-run radio said this evening that Chandrika has called for the meeting with the leaders to brief them about the present military and political situation.

The all-party meeting has been called after the opposition United National Party UNP leader Ranil Wickramsinghe demanded a meeting with the President to know about the details of the present LTTE military campaign in Jaffna, which he said, has serious implications on the nature and character of the Sri Lankan state in future.