Eleven soldiers were killed and 20 wounded in bitter fighting near Mallawi in the Mannar sector, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said yesterday.
Nine Tiger guerrillas were also killed and 27 wounded, he said.
However, independent reports referred to more than 65 soldiers wounded. These sources said ten guerrillas were also killed and confirmed the 27 wounded. Bitter fighting erupted on Friday evening in the general area south of Mallavi, a one time hub of the guerrillas. The area of fighting is located west of the Vavunikulam Tank which is now under Security Forces control. Troops have been fighting bitter gun battles since dawn on Friday to advance towards Mallavi and to Thunnukkai.
The fighting went on for more than 13 hours, military sources said. The military thrust here came after troops had re-captured the coastal village of Vidattaltivu, used as a Sea Tiger base till last month. Brigadier Nanayakkara denied a Tamilnet web-site report that claimed 30 soldiers were killed and more than 60 injured. He also denied a claim in the same report that a "troop-carrier rushed to transport the casualties was seized by the Tigers" and that the Army was "pushed back."
Brigadier Nanayakkara said dozens of guerrilla cadres have been killed and many more injured since the Security Forces began their push from the Mannar frontlines into Tiger-held areas. | 
E-mail