04-09-2004, 07:21 AM
LTTE begin factional fighting
PTI [ FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2004 10:10:00 AM ]
COLOMBO : Rival factions of LTTE on Friday exchanged heavy gunfire in north-eastern Sri Lanka in the first major clash since the split in the rebel movement, forcing the government to declare a red-alert, officials said.
Cadres of the main Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and men controlled by a renegade commander fired mortars and small arms fire for nearly two hours across the Verugal river, military officials said.
"There are no signs of casualties brought to government- controlled hospitals on either side at the moment," a military official said. "But it looks like both suffered casualties."
Tiger commander for the eastern districts of Batticaloa and Ampara, V Muralitharan, broke away from the leadership of LTTE on March 3 sparking fears of a factional war.
Both sides had up to 1,000 fighters each deployed along the banks of the Verugal which marks the border between north-eastern port districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
Karuna had accused the main LTTE leadership of sending intelligence operatives to the region to start a clash.
There was no immediate comment from either of the rebel factions today, but government sources said they went on a red alert fearing consequences.
"The military and the police have sounded a red alert after the heavy overnight exchange of fire by the Tigers," an official said.
PTI [ FRIDAY, APRIL 09, 2004 10:10:00 AM ]
COLOMBO : Rival factions of LTTE on Friday exchanged heavy gunfire in north-eastern Sri Lanka in the first major clash since the split in the rebel movement, forcing the government to declare a red-alert, officials said.
Cadres of the main Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and men controlled by a renegade commander fired mortars and small arms fire for nearly two hours across the Verugal river, military officials said.
"There are no signs of casualties brought to government- controlled hospitals on either side at the moment," a military official said. "But it looks like both suffered casualties."
Tiger commander for the eastern districts of Batticaloa and Ampara, V Muralitharan, broke away from the leadership of LTTE on March 3 sparking fears of a factional war.
Both sides had up to 1,000 fighters each deployed along the banks of the Verugal which marks the border between north-eastern port districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
Karuna had accused the main LTTE leadership of sending intelligence operatives to the region to start a clash.
There was no immediate comment from either of the rebel factions today, but government sources said they went on a red alert fearing consequences.
"The military and the police have sounded a red alert after the heavy overnight exchange of fire by the Tigers," an official said.
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