Tamil guerrillas driven back

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 8

Tamil guerrillas driven back

NZPA-Reuter Colombo Sri Lankan troops yesterday cleared guerrillas out of a 1000-metre perimeter around a military base used for operations against Tamil rebels in the northern city of Jaffna.

The action was the latest sign of a stepped-up struggle for control of the town, the centre of fighting in which 11 people have died and 25 have been wounded in the last three days. A Government spokesman said three strategic positions possibly used for rebel mortar attacks within the 1000-metre zone had been occupied and strengthened. Backed by air cover, soldiers came out of the base — a Dutch-built fort

— to take control of a tele - communications centre and two other abandoned buildings used for mortar attacks. It was the first time the soldiers had left the base since last May. The National Security Minister, Lalith Athulathmudali, told Parliament yesterday that the military had to thwart plans by the main rebel group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, to take over running of the town.

The death toll rose to 11 yesterday when three civilians were killed and 13 more injured in Jaffna. Six rebels and two civilians were killed while 12 others were wounded on Thursday. The military said it suffered no casualties.