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Big cache of LTTE weapons seized: Army

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan military said on Sunday troops engaged in clearing operations in the North had recovered a large haul of weapons left behind by LTTE cadre retreating into the No Fire Zone (NFZ).

The Defence Ministry said the troops collected 30 T-56 rifles, one multi purpose machine gun, a stock of 4,90,000 small machine gun ammo, 750 ammo for T-56 rifles, 48 hand grenades, three suicide jackets, 23 RPG bombs, 10 artillery bombs (130 mm), two claymore mines, 14 mortar bombs (60 mm), three radio communication sets and 11 improvised bombs.

Among the other items found were body armour, pouches and weapon accessories.

The pro-LTTE TamilNet quoting unnamed local NGO workers charged the Army with continued indiscriminate shelling on the NFZ on Friday and Saturday killing at least 60 civilians.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Sunday said the U.N. is making progress with Sri Lanka towards an agreement to get support to civilians in the conflict zone and in efforts to get an agreement from the LTTE to allow civilians to leave.

“We will ask the U.N. Secretary-General’s Representative, Mr. Nambiar, to report immediately to the U.N. Security Council, after his visit. And the [British] Prime Minister’s Special Representative, Des Browne, MP, is travelling to New York to consult urgently with the U.N.”, he said in a statement released here.

Expressing grave concern at the continuing conflict that threatens thousands of civilian lives, he reiterated the desire of his government for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka and for civilians to be allowed to leave the conflict area.

“Protests and demonstrations around the world have highlighted the tragic loss of life of innocent civilians in Sri Lanka. Further loss of life will only compound that tragedy. The Tamil community are a community we value and they make an important contribution to British society,” said the statement.

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