COLOMBO, May 31: Fifty Sri Lankan soldiers and nine LTTE men were killed when rebel guerrillas fought a two-pronged offensive by the troops to recapture a strategic small town in north Vanni yesterday, the tigers have claimed. In its press release from London, the LTTE said its guerrillas have pushed the troops back to their earlier held positions after heavy fighting.Fifty soldiers were killed and 20 bodies have been recovered by its fighters, it said. Nine bodies were handed over to International Red Cross and 11 mutilated bodies were cremated with military honours, the release said, adding that nine of its fighters were killed in the battle.
The state radio here, however, said today that troops made progress in their attempt to capture the town. The radio did not give any details.
The LTTE in other attacks killed four persons including three security personnel, and blasted a telephone exchange in northern Kalawanchakudi town.
The Sri Lankan army which was keeping steady silence on the latestoffensive, said one policeman was killed and another injured in an LTTE grenade attack in Trincomalee.
Two more soldiers were killed and four civilians wounded in a similar attack by the rebels on a mini army camp at Gurunagar in northern Jaffna.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
