Survivors of the attack who arrived at a military position narrated how Tigers fired on them as they tried to cross the frontlines, Army spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.

They were part of a group of about 1,000 civilians who bought these 17 bodies, and said the LTTE cadres opened fire to stop them seeking shelter with the security forces, he added.

Nanayakkara said the incident happened at around 6 to 7 clock in the morning in Udayarkattu area in Pudukudiyyrippu in the northern Wanni region. This was the second major attempt by the Tigers to stop the Tamil civilians, who international agencies believe are being held as human shields.

In a dastardly attack, condemned world-wide, a LTTE female suicide bomber blew herself up yesterday in a refugee centre killing 29 people and injuring 64 others.

The injured have been admitted to various hospitals, he said.