Security forces and the government agent in Vavuniya are busy in convincing the people that they need not leave their houses as they would be fully protected. As a result, people have started returning and exodus has stopped, military sources in Vavuniya said.

Thousands of families started moving out of Vavuniya after the Tigers' radio warned them repeatedly to leave or face danger. Most of them leaving were from the trading class while hundreds of ordinary people were staying on despite warnings. Schools and other institutions in the area were closed.

Earlier this week, some 6000 residents from war zone villages moved further down in fear of LTTE attacks following the fall of several towns and military camps in Wanni during the last ten days of fighting.

A senior militaryofficial said the army had established new forward defence line at Omanthai, 23 km north of Vavuniya. Although there was sporadic mortar fire by the LTTE towards Vavuniya it were neutralised by the army by effective firing.

Troops have been regrouped and have taken positions on new defence lines. The military sources said 17 Tiger guerillas were killed after security forces launched fresh attack on Thursday.

Tigers fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils, recently launched a major offensive against government forces in the north wresting control of a large chunk of terriroty in the Wanni region that they had lost in the past two years. While the LTTE claimed that hundreds of soldiers were killed in the recent battle, army sources said they lost only 101 soldiers. Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has told both the army and the LTTE to ensure safety and security of the people.

ICRC spokeperson Harsh Gunawardena said that international delegates met senior armyofficials and also LTTE representatives in Wanni to ensure safety of civilian population. He said the Vavuniya-based expatriate delegates would continue to monitor the situation there as large groups of people left the town in view of the troubled situation.