At least 152 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in northeastern Sri Lanka as security forces established full control over a Muslim coastal town.
COLOMBO: At least 152 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in artillery and air attacks by the Sri Lankan security forces in the island's northeast as the troops took full control over the Muslim coastal town of Muttur, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday.
With the help of artillery and air attacks, troops inflicted heavy losses on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in and around the town of Muttur in Trincomalee district, a ministry spokesman said.
"We have an estimated 152 Tigers killed and 124 injured, mainly in the air attacks carried at their key base of Foul Point," military spokesman Upali Rajapakse said. "...only 12 sailors (were) wounded in Friday's attacks."
The Defence Ministry said the attack was the final confrontation with the guerrillas in the clashes which erupted on Wednesday with a heavy artillery attack on the Muslim town by Tiger rebels. The two sides had been engaged in fierce fighting over a disputed irrigation canal in the region.
"Naval troops who were vigilant and expecting the failing attempt of Tamil Tigers managed to identify the wave of assault from all corners, annihilated all of them," the ministry said in a statemnent, adding the troops took full control over Muttur.
Local officials said about 15,000 residents of Muttur and surrounding areas had moved to the safer town of Kantalai, where four schools accommodated them.
International relief agencies sought an immediate halt to the fighting so that much needed supplies could be distributed. "We in the humanitarian community ... are gravely concerned about the alarming violence in areas of Trincomalee district," they said in a statement.
The LTTE said Sri Lanka's Army was carrying out indiscriminate shelling that claimed heavy casualties among civilians.
"The Sri Lanka Army's indiscriminate artillery shelling that has continued since July 31 has put civilians in great danger," the LTTE said, claiming that Muslim civilians had been killed by security forces.
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