Lankan army captures Kilinochchi

However, the Army is yet to react to the reports after initially announcing that the LTTE has lost over 300 guerrillas in the first two days of the fighting.

The LTTE has admitted that it had lost 150 cadres on Thursday. Over 85 soldiers were believed to have been killed in the first four days of fighting.

The LTTE had been claiming for the past few days that it had taken control of the town. Though the Army has not yet reacted to the claim, Army sources admitted that the rebels had managed to take over the southern part of the town.

The LTTE’s persistent attempts to regain control of Kilinochchi risking heavy losses were aimed atstalling the possible link up between the columns of the troops advancing on the Vavuniya-Kilinochchi highway from two fronts.After a nine-month long operation, Army has covered about 45 km of the 75 km stretch of the road which was under the control of the rebels.

The Army was expected to open a second front from Kilinochchi this month. The highway was the only available land route to Jaffna peninsula.

Meanwhile, two LTTE area leaders blew themselves up at northern Jaffna, while 18 militants and four soldiers were killed in fierce fighting between the troops and rebels.

The Army said here today that two LTTE leaders, Miraih and Pottu Kannan, blew themselves up with grenades at Meesalai North in Jaffna district yesterday in an attempt to prevent the army from capturing them. Troops killed two more rebels at Neeravely in the same district.

In another development four soldiers of an army foot patrol were killed in an encounter with rebels at Halambawawa near Welioya in the North east Vanni, sourcessaid.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga today declared fresh amnesty to deserters to rejoin the duty.