LTTE frees more than 100 kid soldiers

The LTTE freed more than 100 child soldiers on Tuesday after defeating a rebel faction in weekend clashes. UNICEF said it was the Tigers’ single largest release of children, and there were probably hundreds more who had given up arms and returned to their villages since the infighting eased. ‘‘We hope this release of children is the beginning of a new trend towards the large-scale demobilisation of child soldiers and meeting their commitments under the peace process,’’ UNICEF resident head Ted Chaiban said. Most of the children are believed to belong to the rebel faction. —(Reuters)