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LTTE stepping up violence: Colombo

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Intensified fighting at Forward Defence Lines in two sectors

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) on Thursday claimed that at least 478 persons, including 78 of its own troops and 400 cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), were killed in one of the deadly flare-ups in the peninsula in the past 24 hours. The intensified fighting took place at the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) in Kilani and Muhamalai sectors. The LTTE claimed the battle was the result of the military's attempts to "invade" its territory and the army termed it as a "defensive response to provocative actions" from the Tigers.

On Thursday, the LTTE claimed to have handed over 74 bodies of army troops. The casualty figure is expected to rise as the number of wounded claimed by both sides is over 680. The battle raged on even as Norway, the official facilitator of peace talks, made a formal announcement about the readiness of the Government and the LTTE to meet in Switzerland on October 28 and 29.

The LTTE's military spokesman, Ilanthirayan, said six LTTE cadres and four members of its auxiliary forces were killed in action. Sri Lanka's military spokesman Samarasinghe said, "The terrorist outfit faced major worries from pro-LTTE fundraisers and the Tamil diaspora, following the string of losses.

The escalating violence is an LTTE option to impress them that they still have the bargaining clout", he said.

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