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Tiger rebels say troops killed 8 civilians
The Tamil Tigers yesterday accused government troops of killing eight civilians with roadside bombs in their de facto state in north Sri Lanka, but the military denied it.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:30 February 29, 2008
Colombo: The Tamil Tigers yesterday accused government troops of killing eight civilians with roadside bombs in their de facto state in north Sri Lanka, but the military denied it.
Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops had not mounted any ambushes in rebel territory on Wednesday, but said nine rebels and one soldier were killed in clashes in the northern districts of Vavuniya and Mannar the same day.
With Nordic truce monitors banished from the island after the government formally scrapped a 6-year truce last month, there are seldom independent accounts confirming what happens on the battlefield or behind rebel lines.
Analysts say the government has the upper hand in a new phase of the 25-year civil war given strength of numbers, increased air power and terrain captured in the east, but warn the Tigers still retain their strike capability and should not be written off.
"Two Claymore attacks by Sri Lankan deep penetration units within five hours ... killed eight civilians," the Tigers said in an e-mailed statement, referring to mines used as roadside bombs to often devastating effect.
"In both incidents the victims were travelling in tractor-trailers to work in the paddy fields."
The Tigers are blamed for a string of similar deadly attacks in recent months increasingly focused on civilians in the government-run south of the island.
Renewed war has hurt the economy. Fighting hit tourist arrivals last year, which fell 12 per cent from a year earlier, while the stock market slid nearly 7 per cent in 2007, with some businesses shelving investment plans.
The military says 43 rebels and six soldiers have died so far this week. Analysts say toll claims by both sides are almost certainly inflated.
Nanayakkara said the military killed a Tiger fighter in the eastern district of Batticaloa yesterday, where the government is preparing to hold local council elections in areas captured from the rebels last year.
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