Fighting erupts in East, thousands flee homes

Another round of fighting between security forces and Tiger guerrillas has forced over three thousand, mostly Sinhala civilians, to flee their homes from a number of villages in the Trincomalee district.

They include the villages of Somapura, Serunuwara and Mahindapura in the Government controlled AGA’s Divisions. There were also reports that mostly Tamil civilians in Ichalampattu, Palachenai and Verugal areas which are not under Government control were also fleeing their homes.

Both the Security Forces and the Tiger guerrillas blamed each other for the fighting. A senior Army official in Trincomalee said last night the fighting was sparked off after the guerrillas directed artillery fire at security forces positions and homes in villages they were protecting.

LTTE “Military spokesman” Rasiah Ilanthiriyan claimed that Army units had started an advance, forcing the guerrillas to retaliate.

The LTTE spokesman claimed that 30 soldiers were killed However army officials denied the claim and said only three soldiers were killed.

Hospital sources in Kantale said six civilians and 40 soldiers injured were being treated there. One civilian later died after being transferred to the Kandy hospital.

Reports from the uncleared areas said 15 civilians died and 50 suffered injuries in the latest fighting.