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Alarm over Jaffna blasts

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: At least four persons including a soldier were killed and 17 injured in two claymore explosions in Jaffna town on Tuesday.

The military, which controls the town, was quick to blame the Tigers for the attacks. Coming close on the heels of the capture of several LTTE bases in the east, the incidents in a town with six lakhs population are cause for alarm.

While there was no word from the LTTE, TamilNet reported that tension prevailed in Jaffna following the civilian casualties. The military said the explosion targeting an army route clearing patrol at Sandillippay, Jaffna, injured eight civilians and an army soldier. One civilian succumbed to injuries.

Three soldiers injured

At Chavakachcheri, the military said the LTTE exploded the mine attached to a cycle. Three soldiers were injured while eight civilian casualties were reported. One soldier succumbed to injuries.

The TamilNet said five civilians walking along a road in Jaffna were injured in the blast. It maintained that there was no army vehicle at the spot. "The explosion took place amidst increasing number of disappearances of youths and school students, many abducted during curfew hours," it said.

Defence spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rembukwella told a news conference here that representatives of Britain, Canada, Sweden, the U.S. and the European Commission, after making a survey of the conflict areas, have issued a warning to the LTTE.

He claimed that they have asked the Tigers to stop recruiting persons of any age, intimidating INGOs and using civilians as human shields. It must allow traders to do deal in goods supplied by the Government. In addition, the team has requested the LTTE to ensure transport of essential goods.

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