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No civilian deaths: Colombo

B. Muralidhar Reddy

LTTE alleges indiscriminate aerial bombing by Sri Lankan forces

COLOMBO: At least 18 persons were believed killed in incidents of aerial bombing and sporadic violence in the north and east on Tuesday.

Amid denials by the air force, the LTTE claimed that at least 14 civilians were killed and 35 injured in "indiscriminate aerial bombing" on Padahuthrai hamlet in Mannar under its control.

The air force said it targeted a Sea Tiger base and accused the LTTE of spreading false information about it.

With the decision of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to wind up all its offices in north and monitor the situation from Colombo in view of the security situation, it is impossible to independently verify the claims and the counter claims.

TamilNet quoted the Bishop of Mannar Diocese, Rt Rev Rayappu Joseph, who visited the affected hamlet, as saying the attack had destroyed the settlement of the Internally Displaced Persons. "There was no military installation of the LTTE in the area," it quoted him as saying.

The air force said its jets successfully neutralised a LTTE mortar position west of Panichchankerni in Vaharai, the last bastion of the Tigers in the east, in the morning. For weeks now, the Tigers and the military have been engaged in an intense battle for the control of Vaharai.

Defence Spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella took serious exception to the SLMM decision to "suddenly close down" seven of its offices in the conflict areas without any intimation to the Government.

He said the SLMM's act violated the Ceasefire Agreement provisions.

The CFA laid down the procedure of how a party could deviate from the MoU and clearly indicated that both parties were responsible for the safety of the SLMM members.

He said when the Government sought an explanation, the SLMM said their duty was to inquire into minor incidents like "cattle-lifting" and not inquire into major incidents.

The Minister said the SLMM told the Government that claymore mines and landmine explosions were a threat to their lives. "It is the LTTE that specialises in those weapons. So the implication is that they left because of the escalation of violence by the LTTE."

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