At least 16 LTTE rebels were killed in fierce clashes with the Sri Lankan army which broke through the defences of one of the remaining rebel bastions, even as the Navy sunk an approaching explosives-laden suicide boat on Friday morning.Sri Lankan Navy attack boats deployed in the Mullaittivu seas destroyed an LTTE suicide boat around 3 am, officials said.
The navy boats deployed in the sea blockade along the northeastern coast intercepted the explosive-laden Tiger suicide craft launched from the Mullaittivu coast and destroyed it with heavy gunfire, sources said.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had on Thursday night set a 48-hour ultimatum to the beleaguered LTTE to surrender and allow free movement of civilians trapped in conflict areas and assured a “safe passage” to civilians.
“I urge the LTTE, within the next 48 hours to allow free movement of civilians to ensure their safety and security. For all those civilians, I assure a safe passage to a secure environment,” Rajapaksa said.
The statement came two days after External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee met Rajapaksa and sought an assurance that the safety of Tamil civilians caught in the hostilities will be ensured.
Meanwhile, ground clashes continued, with army thrusting into the remaining LTTE hideouts stretching from the south of Kilaly lagoon to the Paranthan- Mullaittivu road. At present, the navy has deployed four blockades along the northeastern coast of the island to prevent arms supplies.
Not holding civilians: LTTE
Colombo, pti: Rubbishing Lankan government’s claim that it is holding civilians in Wanni as “human shields”, the LTTE on Friday said it has not imposed restrictions on anyone to leave the war zone. “We have been very clear that any individual who wishes to leave the combat zone has an individual right to move anywhere,” Tamil Tigers’ political head B Nadesan said.
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