COLOMBO, Oct 5: As mystery deepens over the fate of a Sri Lanka-bound ship reportedly carrying ammunition for the military from Zimbabwe, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has strongly denied accusations in the media here that the group hijacked the vessel in the Indian Ocean.

``The LTTE categorically denies any involvement whatsoever in the acquisition of a shipload of mortar bombs bound for the Sri Lankan military, which is alleged to have gone missing in July this year,'' stated a press release from the group's London headquarters.

``Accusations have been recently levelled against the LTTE by interested parties saying that the LTTE intercepted this shipment while in transit. These accusations are without foundation,'' the statement added. Local newspapers that first reported the disappearance said the LTTE faxed a note to the US Embassy here claiming the hijacking. According to press reports from Harare, the Zimbabwean Government has also said the shipload of mortar bombs was hijacked by the LTTE.

Defence Minister Movan Mahachi has reportedly told the British defence magazine Jane's Sentinel that the consignment of 32,400 rounds of 81 mm mortar bombs, manufactured by the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI) on order from the Lankan Government, was intercepted by the militants.

For the Sri Lankan Government that has so far denied that it was expecting such a consignment, this revelation by the Zimbabwean Government is bound to cause great embarrassment.

Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte recently told Parliament that everything ordered from Zimbabwe had reached its destination safely.

The ship is reported to have gone missing in July this year between Madagascar, where the cargo from ZDI was loaded on to the vessel, and Sri Lanka. The International Police (Interpol) is reportedly trying to question an Israeli arms contractors, Ben Tsoi, about the disappearance.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.