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| Sunday, 25 December 2005 |
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Forces intensify search operations in Mannar by Ranga Jayasuriya The Security Forces were continuing with cordon and search operations in Mannar yesterday as donor co-chairs met LTTE political leader S.P. Thamilselvan in a crisis meeting after LTTE cadres blew up a Navy convoy in Nadukudah killing 13 sailors. Navy spokesman Commodore Jayantha Perera said the Navy assisted by the army and police had cordoned off the area and that a search operation was in progress. Meanwhile, remains of the thirteen slain sailors were flown to Colombo yesterday and are expected to be handed over to their relatives. The Navy convoy which was heading to Talaimannar naval base had been ambushed with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and small fire after the two simultaneous explosions, Commodore Perera said. Thirteen sailors were killed and three injured in the attack. Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse told the Sunday Observer that the Security Forces had been instructed to step up search operations to curb LTTE violence in the security forces controlled areas. He added that the recent escalation of LTTE violence is an LTTE attempt to obstruct security forces operations. "LTTE cadres have sneaked into the government controlled areas, trained and armed civilians misusing the ceasefire agreement," he said. He said the Security Forces had been ordered to act tough against the under-cover LTTE cadres, to raid LTTE safe houses and prevent illegal movements of the LTTE cadres, so the Tigers hit back, trying to obstruct security operations. "The Peace process is important, but what is far more important is the direction where it is headed. Under the ceasefire, there are things we can't do and there are things we can do." "We will do all we can under the ceasefire to curb LTTE violence, " he said. Meanwhile, Co-chairs of the Tokyo donor conference, Japanese, Norwegian and British diplomats (Britain now holds EU Presidency) met Thamilselvan yesterday afternoon. The meeting was in progress when this edition went to print. |
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