SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka's military says more than 30 people were killed in a sea and land battle with Tamil Tiger rebels

Record ID: 355103

  • Title: SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka's military says more than 30 people were killed in a sea and land battle with Tamil Tiger rebels
  • Date: 17th June 2006
  • Summary: (ASIA) PAMUNUGAMA, SRI LANKA (JUNE 17, 2006) (REUTERS) LV OF CROWD GATHERED AT SITE VARIOUS OF NAVY SOLDIERS (2 SHOTS) BOMB SQUAD JEEP (2 SHOTS) VARIOUS OF BOMB SQUAD CHECKING DIVING GEAR (4 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
  • Country: Sri Lanka
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEBLXD7EMG6SCQYWG1BSRPTPSR
  • Story Text: Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels each claimed victory in a naval clash off the island's northwest coast on Saturday (June 17), and the Tigers threatened retaliation if the government resumed air strikes against them.
    Sri Lankan jets pounded rebel targets on Thursday and Friday night in retaliation for an attack on a civilian bus that killed 64 civilians in the worst violence since a 2002 ceasefire.
    "I heard a loud explosion around 6.45 this morning. Soon after that there was another explosion. When I came to the beach to check there were two sets of diving gear on the beach," said witness Pradeep Madadeniya.
    There was no new bombing on Saturday, but government officials said some 30 people were killed in a clash in the northwestern Mannar district.
    The military said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attacked the navy and police by land and sea just after dawn. It said it sank eight Sea Tiger boats, killing some 25 to 30 rebels.
    Three navy three sailors were confirmed dead but eight were still missing, with three small naval craft damaged. Police said they believed five civilians had also been killed.
    Each side blamed the other for a blast in a church full of refugees.
    The Tigers said that 10 of their boats were moving at sea when they were attacked by the navy. They said the military fired first but the rebels sank three naval craft, killing 12 sailors. They said no Tiger boats were sunk and only two rebels hurt.
    Independent confirmation of the claims was not immediately possible.
    Nordic truce monitors said they heard heavy firing early in the morning and the incident appeared more serious than the hit-and-run attacks that have become normal in recent months.
    There has been a sharp increase in violence since April and almost 700 people have died this year. Attacks have largely been confined to the north and east, where the Tigers want a separate Tamil homeland, but there have been two blasts in the capital.
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